Emirates Literature Foundation to be set up

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, in his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, issued a decree to establish a non-profit foundation known as ‘Emirates Literature Foundation’ with a share capital of Dh18.7 million.According to the decree No. 8 of the year 2013, the co-founders comprise Emirates airline, the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and the LITFEST (Sole Establishment).Emirates Literature Foundation shall have an independent legal entity and full legal capacity to act in accordance with its objectives in accordance with this decree, the Establishing Document and Articles of Association.The objective of the new foundation is to promote literature and to foster an environment which is favourable to literary intellectuals through: Organising, managing and supervising the annual Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature; Promoting literary output in Arabic, English and other languages, particularly literary works targeting children; Attracting international and renowned authors to the Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature to present their literary works to the public; Encouraging reading outside of the classroom; Nurturing and providing a platform suitable for intellectual output and for local writers, poets and other literary intellectuals; Inviting selected writers from among UAE nationals and residents to attend other international festivals of literature; Liaising with the Dubai Culture and Arts AuthorityMohammed orders to set up Emirates Literature Foundation and entities concerned to establish a ‘Writers Centre’ which will act as a nucleus for year round activities of a literary nature; and ensuring that the Emirates Airlines Literature Festival is comprehensive and accessible for all.The decree named the foundation’s first Board of Trustees chaired by Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Department of Civil Aviation, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates airline & Group. Members of the Board of Trustees will include Shaikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Isobel Abulhoul; Dr Lowai Mohammed Belhoul; Maurice Flangan; Dr Rafia Obaid Ghubash; and Dr Hessa Abdullah Lootah.The board of trustees may alter the provisions of the Establishing Document and the Articles of Association save for those provisions relating to the name of the foundation, its head office, its objectives and capital. Any such alteration shall be done in accordance with the provisions set out in the Establishing Document and the Articles of Association.