As the CEO of the Emirates Literature Foundation, Ahlam Balooki plays a leading role in fostering a love of literature across the Middle East, promoting cultural expression, and providing a platform for forward-thinking dialogue through competitions and a creative writing fellowship. She is also the director of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature and the Managing Director of ELF Publishing. 

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature has become a staple of the UAE’s cultural calendar, with international and regional authors attending its talks and workshops. Before joining the Emirates Literature Foundation, Ahlam Bolooki was the Head of Regional Campaigns at Dubai Tourism, where she was responsible for supporting His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision to strengthen Dubai’s position as a world-leading tourism destination.