Ahlam Bolooki is the Chief Executive Officer of the Emirates Literature Foundation, leading a pioneering organisation dedicated to building a society rooted in reading and storytelling and positioning the UAE as a global literary hub. The Foundation’s mission is to foster curiosity, inspire future generations, and unite communities worldwide through stories. As Festival Director of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the Middle East’s largest celebration of the written and spoken word, she curates an annual platform for dialogue, creativity and cultural exchange. She also serves as General Manager of ELF Publishing, which amplifies regional voices in both children’s and adult fiction for international audiences. Beyond her leadership roles, Ahlam is a Board Member of the Kalimat Foundation, which champions accessible reading for vulnerable and visually impaired children, and sits on the Advisory Board of the American University of Sharjah, shaping the future of literary and linguistic education in the region.