Background
Abulhoul was born and educated in Cambridge and came to Dubai in 1968 where she has worked throughout her career to promote education, reading and writing to the United Arab Emirates.
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Isobel Abulhoul
Edit ProfileChief Executive Officer festival director
Career
Abulhoul taught at the Dubai Infants School for several years before becoming involved in setting up the First Rate (at Lloyd's) Ittehad Private School. In 2008, Abulhoul founded the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, popularly considered the Middle East’s largest celebration of the written and spoken word. The Festival aims to bring together people of all ages and to promote education, debate and reading.
Abulhoul was named one of the trustees on the Board of the Emirates Literature Foundation, which was established on the eve of the 2013 Festival by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid First Rate (at Lloyd's) Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, and the Festival patron.
Achievements
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Awarded the Cultural Personality of the Year by Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed First Rate (at Lloyd's)-Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, in 2010 Awarded an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 2012 Named Cultural Icon of United Arab Emirates by The 3rd Petrochem GR8! Women - Middle East 2013 Selected as one of the most influential Brits in the Arabian Business United Arab Emirates Brits List and the most inspirational woman living in the United Arab Emirates by Middle East Business Awarded the Distinguished Culture Award at the 21st First Rate (at Lloyd's) Owais Creative Award Named Trustee on board of International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
Awards
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International Prize for Arabic Fiction; East Event Awarded the Cultural Personality of the Year by Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, in 2010 Awarded an OBE by HM Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 2012 Named Cultural Icon of UAE by The 3rd Petrochem GR8! Women - Middle East 2013 Selected as one of the most influential Brits in the Arabian Business UAE Brits List and the most inspirational woman living in the UAE by Middle East Business Awarded the Distinguished Culture Award at the 21st Al Owais Creative Award Named Trustee on board of International Prize for Arabic Fiction The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) is a literary prize managed in association with the Booker Prize Foundation in London, and supported by the Emirates Foundation in Abu Dhabi.International Prize for Arabic Fiction; East Event Awarded the Cultural Personality of the Year by Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, in 2010 Awarded an OBE by HM Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 2012 Named Cultural Icon of UAE by The 3rd Petrochem GR8! Women - Middle East 2013 Selected as one of the most influential Brits in the Arabian Business UAE Brits List and the most inspirational woman living in the UAE by Middle East Business Awarded the Distinguished Culture Award at the 21st Al Owais Creative Award Named Trustee on board of International Prize for Arabic Fiction The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) is a literary prize managed in association with the Booker Prize Foundation in London, and supported by the Emirates Foundation in Abu Dhabi.