The Emirates Literature Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which supports and nurtures a love of literature in the United Arab Emirates and the region, through a programme of varied cultural initiatives. Established in 2013 by Royal Decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Foundation aims to foster a love for literature, with a focus on the Arabic language. Its impact was recently celebrated with the 2026 Sheikh Zayed Book Award in the ‘Publishing and Cultural Technology’ category. In line with the National Reading Policy of the UAE, the Foundation hosts and manages several long-term projects including the Dubai International Writers’ Centre; the First Chapter: ELF Seddiqi Writers’ Fellowship; the School Librarian of the Year Award; the Reading for Pleasure project; Kateb Maktub, Million Wiki, and From the Inside Out, as well as conducting year-round student education programmes, book clubs and monthly community nights. The Foundation has also partnered with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) on a prestigious competition inviting emerging writers to submit original works of science fiction. The Foundation is home to ELF Publishing, a dedicated arm launched in 2022 to showcase local narratives; to date, the house has published 20+ titles in both Arabic and English. Notable publications include Dr. Afra Atiq’s poetry collection Of Palm Trees and Skies, Shamma Al Bastaki’s House to House, and English translations of Reem Al Kamali’s Rose’s Diary and Salha Obaid’s Circle of Spices, alongside children’s books by authors such as Ebtisam Al Beiti and Julia Johnson. The Foundation’s previous initiatives included the 2020 International Literary Festivals Conference, the 2017 Dubai International Publishing Conference, and the 2016 Dubai Translation Conference. The Foundation is in official relations with UNESCO and is also the governing body of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the UAE’s premier literary festival.