Isabelle Aboulhoul, daughter of writers and a companion of the word, a voice that has constantly echoed on the horizon of knowledge for decades of continuous and diligent work to elevate the banner of thought, came to Dubai at a time when paper was gasping for a reader. Over the years, she transformed into a unique icon of Emirati culture, carrying the cause of books in one hand and the hope of new generations in the other. Thanks to her devotion to culture and her diligence in spreading it, literature has gained its largest festival in the region, and reading has found institutions that support and celebrate it.
Deep Devotion Isabelle Aboulhoul, who embodied the meeting of East and West in her career, succeeded in establishing a unique model of deep devotion to the culture she considered, with its concepts, values, and interactions, a constitution for life, the essence of civilization, and a real bridge for bringing peoples together. Isabelle Aboulhoul was not merely a founder of a successful literary festival or a chain of old bookstores, but a key pillar of the cultural scene in the UAE. Through the "Emirates Airline Festival of Literature," which is preparing for its 17th edition this year, she hosted leading writers and thinkers from around the world, contributing to making Dubai a capital of spoken and written literature, all while holding a firm belief that a book is not just an educational tool, but an existential companion that shapes consciousness and refines the soul. Relying on this conviction, Aboulhoul ensured that the impact of her initiatives extended to schools and universities, launching projects aimed at children and teenagers, believing that those who read as children make a significant difference in their youth.
A Prolific Career Isabelle Aboulhoul was born and educated in Cambridge, Britain, and came to Dubai in 1968, the city that has since become her home. She began her professional life in Dubai in the field of education in kindergartens and continued in this field for several years before contributing to the founding of Al Ittihad Private School. Her great passion for books led her to found the "Majroudi" chain of bookstores in Dubai in 1975. In addition to the "Majroudi" projects, Isabelle Aboulhoul founded a publishing house for children's books in both Arabic and English, focusing on the region's culture. With the support of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, she launched the "Story Garden" initiative as part of an ambitious plan to develop education in the Arabic language and enhance the role of reading in a child's life. This initiative provided teachers with the opportunity to author their own stories and use them in the educational programs they oversee. In 2008, she founded the "Emirates Airline Festival of Literature," the largest festival in the Middle East, which celebrates the written and read word and embraces multicultural audiences, providing an exceptional opportunity for all age groups to meet authors, creators, and speakers from around the world. Since its inception, the festival has continuously strengthened the role of reading, education, and constructive cultural dialogue, culminating in being named the best festival in the Middle East for 2013, 2014, and 2015. In 2013, during the festival, its patron, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the State, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, issued a decree to establish the "Emirates Literature Foundation" and appointed Isabelle Aboulhoul as its CEO and a member of its board of trustees.
Investing in Knowledge Today, after more than five decades of service to books, Isabelle Aboulhoul remains "Umm Mansour," a living symbol of borderless culture. Through her work, she has successfully embodied her vision that literature is not a luxury but a complete life, and that investing in knowledge is the most beautiful investment in the future of nations and generations.
• She co-founded Al Ittihad Private School in Dubai, one of the educational institutions that has graduated generations of creators. • In 1975, she founded the "Majroudi" chain of bookstores in Dubai, which later became a leading chain in the world of publishing and knowledge distribution. • In 2008, she launched the "Emirates Airline Festival of Literature," which has become one of the largest literary festivals in the Arab world. • In 2010, Isabelle Aboulhoul was awarded the title "Cultural Personality of the Year" by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah. • In 2012, she was awarded the Order of the British Empire "OBE" in recognition of her pioneering role in spreading culture and promoting civilizational dialogue. • In 2013, she contributed to the establishment of the Emirates Literature Foundation and took on the role of CEO before becoming an advisor and a member of its board of trustees. • In 2014, she received the "Distinguished Cultural Personality" award from the Al Owais Foundation in its 21st edition.
