Sponsors & Partners

Title Sponsor

In Partnership With

Emirates (www.emirates.com) is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, flies to over 120 destinations and 72 countries worldwide across six continents. With a fleet of over 170 aircraft, the airline's success is firmly rooted in its commitment to innovation and quality. Emirates operates the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 777 ultra-long-range aircraft and the world’s largest fleet of Airbus A380s signifying a new era in luxury travel.

The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) was launched on March 8, 2008 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Dubai Culture plays a critical part in achieving the vision of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 of establishing the city as vibrant, global Arabian metropolis that shapes culture and arts in the region and the world. The organisation has announced several initiatives that strengthen the historic and modern cultural fabric of Dubai.

Venue Partner

InterContinental Dubai Festival City is a 498 room luxury hotel, home to four dynamic restaurants, two exquisite bars, a spa and boasts connection to the world-class Festival Centre shopping mall with 600 retail outlets. The hotel is also minutes away from its own 18-hole championship ‘Al Badia Golf Club’.

Heritage Venue Partner

Dubai Municipality was established in 1954 in accordance with direction from late His Excellency Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum to set up an administrational institution specifically for civic activities like catering services, hygiene, health monitoring and for co ordination of construction and buildings the first decree for establishing Dubai Municipality was issued on 28 Rajab 1376 AH (February 28,1957). With the accelerated pace of growth Dubai is advancing by, municipality has become the outstanding civic body having 11000 staff and 33 administrative units and offering varied services to its home customers as well as those who are external. It is worth noting that almost all the services in municipality are now delivered online. The services vary from town planning to Building, food control, waste management, agriculture, parks, public projects to international municipal co- operations.

Festival Bookseller

Kinokuniya Bookstore is truly the destination for all book lovers. It holds a variety of books in 6 languages, carefully selected stationary items, figurines and collectable items and more.

Day Sponsor

Dubai Duty Free opened for business on December 20th 1983 and over the past 28 years has grown to become the single largest airport retailer in the world in terms of turnover. The operation expected sales figures to reach Dhs5.3 billion (US$1.45 billion) in 2011.

Emirati Writers Sponsor

Dubai Airports owns and manages the operation and development of both of Dubai’s airports – Dubai International (DXB) as well as the upcoming Dubai World Central (DWC)

Poetry Competiton Sponsor

Taaleem, has been establishing, operating and managing early childhood, primary and secondary schools since 2004. Taaleem seeks to raise the regional educational standards through the committed development of individual student’s talents and passions, which is in turn facilitated and supported by the recruitment of top international educators and the implementation of global best practice.

Story Writing Competition Sponsor

Oxford University Press is a department of Oxford University, and furthers its educational mission by publishing for all ages worldwide. It is the largest University Press in the world.

Readers Cup Challenge Sponsor

Boeing is the world’s leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Boeing has customers in more than 90 countries around the world and is one of the largest US exporters in terms of sales.

Media Partners

Gulf News, the flagship publication of GN Media is the leading daily English language newspaper of the region as validated by the IPSOS MediaCT – NRS-UAE 2011 survey and also the BPA Worldwide audit for the six month period ending in June 2011, confirming an average daily circulation of 111,825.

The Arabian Radio Network is the largest and most successful radio network in the Middle East, with eight radio channels representing every major community in the UAE. Radio stations include Dubai Eye 103.8, Radio Shoma 93.4, Dubai 92, Virgin Radio 104.4, Al Khaleejiya 100.9, Al Arabiya 99, Hit 96.7 and City 101.6. Headquartered at Dubai Media City, ARN is part of the Arab Media Group

The Middle East’s most dynamic city is a natural Time Out habitat, and has proved so since 2001 when Time Out Dubai first launched. Over this period, Time Out has mirrored the astonishing growth of the region, evolving from a monthly edition to a weekly in 2005, with a raft of complementary supplements, standalone products and awards ceremonies being launched under the Time Out banner.

In keeping with Time Out‘s global reputation, Time Out Dubai targets the large proportion of well-educated residents who are open to new ideas and influences. Each week, Time Out Dubai reviews the city’s best restaurants and bars, previews the best gigs and events in town and gives useful travel tips and destination ideas. As the city’s benchmark for credible, objective editorial, the magazine actively influences consumer decisions in Dubai.

Motivate Publishing is the Gulf’s leading publisher of magazines and books. Our portfolio comprises more than twenty market-leading magazines and over 300books.

Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) achieved through its multiple media channels (press, radio and TV) remarkable success and prestigious status on the level of media in the Arab world and reached a maximum number of viewers regionally and internationally owing to its creative, meaningful and relevant content, that always strives to embody the spirit of originality and modernity. DMI is committed to create a new Emirati media generation able to depict, portray and demonstrate the image of Dubai and the UAE, thereby contributing to the formulation of a new media concept.

The International Herald Tribune (www.global.nytimes.com) is the premier international newspaper for opinion leaders and decision makers around the globe. It combines the extensive resources of its own corresp ondents with those of The New York Times and is printed at 37 sites throughout the world, for sale in more than 180 countries. Based in Paris since 1887, the IHT is part of The New York Times Company.
To subscribe, email ihtdubai@iht.com or call +971-4-428-9457

Banking Partner

Emirates NBD is a leading banking Group in the region. As at 31 December 2011, total assets were AED 284.6 billion. The Group has a leading retail banking franchise in the UAE, with over 168 branches and over 780 ATMs and SDMs. It is a major player in the UAE corporate banking arena and has strong Islamic banking, Global Markets & Treasury, Investment Banking, Private Banking, Asset Management and Brokerage operations. The Group has operations in the UAE, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Singapore, the United Kingdom and Jersey (Channel Islands), and representative offices in India and Iran. The Group is an active participant and supporter of the UAE’s main development initiatives and of the various educational, environmental, cultural, charity and community welfare establishments. For more information, please visit: www.emiratesnbd.com

PR Partner

A communications innovator, Ketchum ranks among the largest global public relations agencies, operating in more than 50 countries. With five global practices – Brand Marketing, Corporate, Healthcare, Food & Nutrition, and Technology – and specialty capabilities that include Access Communications (high- and consumer-tech PR), Concentric Communications (experiential marketing, events and meetings), MMG (clinical trial recruitment), Ketchum Global Research Network, Ketchum Pleon Change (change and workplace communications) and Ketchum Sports & Entertainment, Ketchum leverages its marketing and corporate communication expertise to build brands and reputations for clients. For more information on Ketchum, a unit of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC), visit www.ketchum.com.

Design Partner

The Tribe is an innovative creative agency, uniting experts from different fields. It was born from the belief that there is a much fresher, inclusive and collaborative way of working

Legal Partner

Norton Rose Group is a leading international legal practice. We have been active throughout the Middle East as legal advisers in major transactions, projects, ongoing commercial operations and disputes for over 30 years.

Academic Partner

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is the regulatory authority in Dubai which supports the improvement of private schools, universities, training institutes and other human resource sectors.

University Partner

Dubai Women’s College (DWC), with more than 2,300 students, is part of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT). The HCT is one of the leading higher education institutions in the United Arab Emirates with 17 campuses located throughout the country delivering a wide range of quality programs to over 18,000 students. DWC was established in 1989 and offers Bachelor degrees in Business, Information Technology, Education, Health Sciences, and Applied Communications. Today, DWC is the quality provider of top-quality Emirati women graduates in Dubai. DWC's mission is to provide a learning environment for young women to “Practice the Future” by developing confidence, professional excellence and an ethical commitment to leadership roles in a rapidly developing local economy.

Zayed University is an educational centre of excellence founded in 1998. Today, the University is educating more than 7,000 students from more than 19 countries. Zayed University is the first university in the middle east to be accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Transportation Partner

Event Management Partner

SIAN Events is a full service event management and exhibition company with offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and London. Established in 1976 and fully operational in the UAE since 1996, its team of creative designers, event professionals and support staff continuously exceed our clients expectations and deliver excellent events, experiences and exhibitions.

Gold Sponsors

Established in the 1930s and headquartered in Dubai, Al-Futtaim is structured into several operational divisions including Automotive; Engineering, Electronics & Technology; Retail; Financial Services: General Services; Education, Real Estate and Construction; Leisure and Joint Ventures. Al-Futtaim operates through more than 65 companies across the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Pakistan, Singapore, Malaysia and Europe.

Silver Sponsors

The Dubai World Trade Centre, the region’s leading business hub and events destination specialising in exhibition and event management, venue management, real estate and event & hospitality services, has delivered unique and unparalleled business opportunities for over 32 years. It continues to bring together global enterprises, ideas and people, creating the ideal platform to accelerate trade in the region.

Hachette UK is the largest and one of the most diversified book publishers in the UK. The Group is made up of several publishing companies and imprints including Headline Publishing Group, Hodder & Stoughton, John Murray, Orion Publishing Group, Octopus Publishing Group, Little, Brown Book Group, Hodder Education Group, and Chambers.

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, a branch of Moorfields London (the world’s leading eye centre) provides world class services for conditions including glaucoma, cataracts, corneal grafts, Diabetic Retinopathy, paediatric, strabismus, plus Lasik surgery and cosmetic treatments, through a permanent team of specialist consultants.

Spinneys has built a strong, and well-deserved, reputation for freshness and customer service. Food safety, quality, freshness and service have been the main drivers at Spinneys since the company’s inception and these values continue to drive the business today.

Supporters

"L'Alliance Française de Dubai belongs to the 1st not-for-profit cultural organization as well as the largest network of French language and cultural centres in the world."

Aptec Mobile L.L.C. retail chain was established in 1999 to trade mobiles phones and accessories, now it is one of the largest telecom retailers in UAE and now operates under the mother company, Fast Link Group. Aptec operates through 8 branded retail stores, and 40 unbranded stores. Blackberry, Nokia and Samsung are official partners, but customers can also find full range of telecom brands and related accessories at all Aptec Mobile showrooms.
APTEC Mobile follows a highly developed strategy of “Value Added Services”, and these services include: 30 minutes Repair, Swap Phones, Temporary-Phone, Trade-In Facility, Extended-Warranties, Personalized in-shop assistance, software corners…and many more!

Art Dubai 2012 takes place March 21-24 at Madinat Jumeirah, and features 74 galleries from 32 countries, in addition to a new programme of artists’ and curators’ residencies, commissioned projects, the unveiling of the works by Abraaj Capital Art Prize winners and the critically acclaimed Global Art Forum.

Get ready to enter the record books and experience a journey through Dubai’s exotic Arabian heritage, the extraordinary story behind Burj Khalifa as the new icon for the Middle East and view the spectacular panorama from the observatory At the Top, Burj Khalifa.

The Bookworm, for the best in children's books, is the only bookshop in the U.A.E. exclusively for children. We also carry a delighful range of giftscards and wrapping paper.

Costa Coffee was first poured in 1971 in London, UK, by Sergio and Bruno Costa. Today, just a few metres away from where they first set up, the Costa Roastery produces the same unique Mocha Italia blend that the Costa brothers worked so hard to create. The first Costa store outside the UK opened in Dubai in 1999 and nowadays Costa stores can be found across the UAE.

When you walk into a Costa store you'll notice it's different to other coffee shops. There is the warm and welcoming atmosphere, the great range of authentic coffee drinks and wide range of food and finally the most passionate and well trained baristas around. It's this unique combination that makes us stand out from the others, and we're incredibly proud of it.

The Italian Embassy in Abu Dhabi is the headquarters of the first Italian Cultural Department for the Gulf Area.
The Cultural Department headed by Prof. Alessandra Priante, has the overall aim of enhancing the cultural dialogue between the two Countries, by enrolling its expressions - with regards to Art, Music, Cinema, Literature, Design and Language - in an Institutional framework and also by facilitating the reach of artistic expressions from the Gulf to Italy and Europe.

Explorer Publishing was founded in Dubai in 1995 and has rapidly expanded its portfolio of complete residents’ guides, mini visitors’ guides, mini maps, maps and atlases, lifestyle guides and photography books, covering the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and beyond. Explorer also has strong contract publishing arm comprising clients who benefit from their award-winning content and creativity. For more information log on to askexplorer.com

Unforgettable experiences with Gulf Ventures
Choose from a variety of breathtaking tours of Dubai and the surrounding Emirates. Explore the magic of the desert with scenic dunes or bespoke city tours showcasing the harmonious blend of old and new.

Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hospitality company and a member of Dubai Holding, operates a world-class portfolio of hotels and resorts. Jumeirah Group also runs the luxury serviced residences brand Jumeirah Living; the spa brand Talise; Jumeirah Restaurants; Wild Wadi Waterpark; The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management; and Sirius, its global loyalty programme.

Macmillan Adam produce attitude-altering global award winning marketing and training films for corporate and government clients. People, kit, edit suites and audio facilities all under one roof in Media City.

News Group is a news management company founded in 2002, the company and its subsidiaries specialize in the sourcing, distribution, creation, monitoring and analysis of news content in the emerging markets of the Middle East, Africa and the Indian sub-continent. The group includes seven subsidiaries that employ over 300 people. News Group is based in Dubai and operates in 30 countries across the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region, primarily through its subsidiaries.

America's premier literary and intellectual journal. Each issue contains essay-length book reviews and provocative articles on literature, art, politics, science, history, music, and education by the best contemporary writers.

READ is a new magazine published in the UAE to encourage participation of the teaching and learning community to champion reading in the home, school, library, work or college.

The SMCCU has been bridging the gap of cultural understanding among the many nationalities in the UAE under our banner programme, 'Open Doors. Open Minds.' Join us at our events.

WHSmith is one of the UK’s leading retailers, with over 1,100 stores in international locations such as Dubai, Sydney and Delhi, as well as the UK. WHSmith sells a range of newspapers, magazines, stationery, books and confectionery products.

Headline Sponsor

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