Emirates Literature Foundation

What Emirates Literature Foundation does

Emirates Literature Foundation is a Dubai-based not-for-profit non-governmental organisation established in 2013 by decree of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, building on the legacy of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature first launched in 2009. The Foundation governs the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature (the Middle East's premier annual literary festival held each January in Dubai) and operates the Dubai International Writers' Centre (founded 2018), the ELF Reading Caravan (a mobile library donated by Dubai Civil Defense), the First Chapter ELF Seddiqi Writers' Fellowship, and the School Librarian of the Year Award (held with The Executive Council of Dubai). It also runs ELF Publishing LLC, an independent bilingual Arabic-English publishing house, and a portfolio of year-round programmes including student competitions, book clubs, the Reading for Pleasure initiative, Voices of Future Generations, and Wikimedians of the UAE.

The Foundation serves a broad stakeholder base across students, school librarians, educators, aspiring and published writers, general readers, and UAE-based debut authors, with all programming offered bilingually in Arabic and English. It runs free book clubs, free student competitions, and free Caravan school visits, while generating paid revenue through festival tickets, Dubai International Writers' Centre workshops and masterclasses, Foundation Friends annual membership, and ELF Publishing book sales distributed via its own e-commerce site and Magrudy's as the official bookseller. Funding is primarily derived from corporate sponsorships (including Emirates as title sponsor, Seddiqi Holding, Emirates NBD, Chevron, and Al-Futtaim), government partnerships, and individual donations, with the Foundation Friends loyalty programme providing recurring member support.

The Foundation's go-to-market motion is anchored by the annual festival as a brand-awareness engine, supplemented by year-round community-led programmes, free book clubs, volunteer engagement, and digital channels spanning Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and email newsletters. Headquarters are located at Dar Al Adaab in the Al Shindagha Historical Neighbourhood, Dubai, with the Writers' Centre returning to the same neighbourhood in 2026.

Name

Emirates Literature Foundation

Legal name

Emirates Literature Foundation

Website

https://elfdubai.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Emirates Literature Foundation is a Dubai-based non-profit NGO that governs the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature and operates year-round literacy programmes, the Dubai International Writers' Centre, the Reading Caravan, and ELF Publishing, serving students, librarians, writers, and readers across the UAE and region in Arabic and English.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Literary and Cultural Education Services

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Book Publishers (51313), All Other Publishers (513199)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Publishing & Submission Prep Workshops (Query Letters, Agents, Journals) (EDAMAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Institutional & Custom Publishing (Coursepacks, Campus/Corporate Training) (MPAJABAL)

Keywords

• Literary festivals
• Creative writing workshops
• Education programs
• Community book clubs
• Author events

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorship: As a not-for-profit NGO, the Foundation is primarily funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and government partnerships. The Foundation Friends loyalty programme provides member benefits in exchange for membership/support. Monthly donation statistics are tracked on its website (69+ monthly donors per English site, 68+ per Arabic site).
2. ELF Publishing (book sales): The Foundation operates ELF Publishing LLC, an independent UAE-based publishing house. Books are sold via the ELF Publishing website (elfpublishing.me/shop) and distributed through booksellers such as Magrudy's. Revenue is generated from the sale of published anthologies, children's books, and translated works.
3. Festival and event attendance revenue: The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature sells tickets to sessions, workshops, and author events. Paid festival attendance is a revenue stream supporting the Foundation's broader mission.
4. Workshop and masterclass fees: The Dubai International Writers' Centre offers paid workshops, masterclasses, and writing courses across beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Fees are charged for registration at events and courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Emirates Literature Foundation operates a portfolio of literary and educational programs anchored by the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the Middle East's premier annual literary festival. It runs year-round education initiatives (student competitions, Reading Caravan, School Librarian of the Year Award, Voices of Future Generations), writing development programs (Dubai International Writers' Centre, First Chapter fellowship, MBRSC Short Story Award), community book clubs, and ELF Publishing, an independent publishing house.

Product overview

Emirates Literature Foundation operates a diverse portfolio of literary and educational programs centered around its flagship Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. The Foundation functions as a platform-plus-programs organization rather than a single product company. Core offerings include the annual Emirates Airline Festival of Literature (the Middle East's premier literary festival), the ELF Reading Caravan (mobile library), Dubai International Writers' Centre, and the First Chapter: ELF Seddiqi Writers' Fellowship. Additional programs include student competitions (Oxford Story Writing, Poetry For All, Readers' Cup, Digital Storytelling), the School Librarian of the Year Award, Voices of Future Generations, Reading for Pleasure initiatives, and book clubs for all ages. The Foundation also operates ELF Publishing as an independent publishing house. These programs work together to support readers, writers, students, librarians, and the broader literary community across the UAE and the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dubai International Writers' Centre: A permanent home for writers in the UAE and a dynamic hub of craft, conversation, and community offering year-round writing workshops, masterclasses, writing groups, talks, and professional development programmes. Founded in 2018 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
• ELF Reading Caravan
• School Librarian of the Year Award
• First Chapter: ELF Seddiqi Writers' Fellowship
• MBRSC Short Story Award: New Voices in Sci-Fi
• Foundation Book Club
• Children's Book Club
• Teen Book Club
• Emirates LitFest Launchpad
• ELF Publishing LLC

Products and services

• Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
• Dubai International Writers' Centre
• First Chapter: ELF Seddiqi Writers' Fellowship
• ELF Reading Caravan
• Foundation Book Clubs
• MBRSC Short Story Award: New Voices in Sci-Fi
• Student Competitions
• School Librarian of the Year Award
• Foundation Friends Loyalty Programme
• Voices of Future Generations (VoFG)
• Emirates LitFest Launchpad
• ELF Publishing

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ locally based writers mentored through First Chapter fellowship towards international publication
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• The Executive Council of DubaiflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeld in partnership with The Executive Council of Dubai, the School Librarian of the Year Award recognises outstanding school librarians in UAE public and private schools. The award has been running since 2017 and is a flagship recognition programme that shines a light on librarians' contribution to literacy.
• Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MBRSC Short Story Award: New Voices in Sci-Fi is presented by Emirates Literature Foundation in partnership with MBRSC. The competition invites UAE-based writers to submit original sci-fi stories; winners receive tours of MBRSC, meet-and-greet with astronauts, and professional writing workshops. MBRSC also hosts the closing ceremony of the summer Sci-Fi Writing Camp.
• Dubai Civil DefenseminorOthersDubai Civil Defense donated the ELF Reading Caravan, a mobile library van that brings books to school students across the UAE. The Foundation received this donation and converted it into a student-facing literacy initiative.
• Dubai CultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDubai Culture and Emirates Literature Foundation partnered to champion translation across borders, working together to advance cross-cultural literary exchange and translation in the region.
• Magrudy'scoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMagrudy's is the official bookseller and retail partner for ELF Publishing books. The Foundation Book Club meets monthly at Magrudy's Jumeirah location. Students and readers can purchase books featured in Foundation programmes through Magrudy's online and physical stores.
• Oxford University PressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxford University Press partners with the Foundation on the annual Story Writing Competition for young writers, with winning entries published in a winners' anthology.
• Emirates NBDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmirates NBD sponsors the Poetry for All competition for students, which celebrates the oral tradition of poetry performance and recital in the Arab world.
• ChevronminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChevron sponsors the Chevron Readers' Cup, a team-based quiz competition for primary and secondary school students who read selected books and compete in quiz rounds.
• Al-FuttaimminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAl-Futtaim sponsors the Digital Storytelling Prize for secondary school students who produce short films inspired by literary works. The competition currently runs in Arabic only.
• Dubai Parks and Resorts / Yas Island ParksminorOthersDubai Parks and Resorts and Yas Island Parks donate 4-day tickets as prizes for shortlisted librarians in the School Librarian of the Year Award (Best Use of Resources category).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hay Festival: Global literary festival organisation running flagship events in Hay-on-Wye and internationally, with associated education and outreach programmes. Directly comparable to ELF as a mission-driven literary festival operator combining ticketed events with year-round education and author development initiatives.
• PEN International: Global literary nonprofit promoting literature and freedom of expression with member centres worldwide. Comparable to ELF in its nonprofit literary mission and focus on writers, language communities, and cross-cultural literary exchange.
• Brooklyn Book Festival: Major urban literary festival in New York combining a free public festival with year-round children's and education programming. Comparable to ELF in pairing a flagship community literary event with structured school and youth outreach.
• Scottish Book Trust: Scottish charity running creative writing programmes, book gifting, and author events for children and adults. Comparable to ELF as a nonprofit literary/education organisation combining free programmes, awards, and writer development without an academic remit.
• Jaipur Literature Festival: Often described as the world's largest free literary festival, held annually in India with extensive speaker programming and associated education outreach. Closely comparable to ELF in combining a premier literary festival with educational mission, free public access, and growing regional/international brand pull.
• Edinburgh International Book Festival: One of the world's leading annual literary festivals, running a large education programme for schools alongside its public festival. Highly comparable to ELF given its mix of a flagship ticketed literary event plus extensive free school and community outreach in a single host city.
• BookTrust (UK): UK literacy charity that provides free books and resources to children, plus author events and reading programmes. Closely comparable to ELF in mission (child literacy, free book access, author engagement) and nonprofit operating model.
• National Book Trust (India): Government-backed Indian body promoting reading and Indian literature through book fairs, author events, and translation support. Comparable to ELF as a national literary promotion organisation with government ties and bilingual/translation agenda.
• Singapore Writers Festival: Annual literary festival in Singapore organised by the National Arts Council with bilingual programming and education strands. Highly comparable to ELF as a state-backed literary festival in an Asian market with bilingual outreach and writer-development components.

Broad incumbents

• British Council: UK government cultural and educational organisation running English-language, arts, and education programmes worldwide. Adjacent peer to ELF given overlap in promoting English-language literary and educational engagement in the Gulf/MENA region, though operating at much larger scale and broader remit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EmiratesLiteratureFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/EmiratesLiteratureFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emiratesliteraturefoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/elfdubai
• TikToktiktok.com/@elfdubai?lang=en
• Xx.com/ELFDubai

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Emirates Literature Foundation