Emirates NBD organises visit to Pearl Museum for attendees of Emirates Airline Festival of Literature

A group of female participants at the 2013 EAFL were given a guided tour

In keeping with its strategic objective to support initiatives that promote UAE’s culture and tradition, Emirates NBD, a leading bank in the region, organised a visit to the Emirates NBD Pearl Museum for the attendees of the Ladies Morning at the 2013 Emirates Airline Festival of Literature (EAFL). Rick Pudner, Group CEO, Emirates NBD, welcomed a group of female participants at the EAFL, who were given a guided tour of the Emirates NBD Pearl Museum as part of Emirates NBD’s support and partnership of the festival.

The first such initiative in the region, the Emirates NBD Pearl Museum contains the largest collection of natural pearls in the GCC. It is a gift from the late Sultan Al Owais, the founder of the National Bank of Dubai, to the people of the UAE to remind them of their culture and heritage before the discovery of oil.

Emirates NBD served as sponsor of the prestigious annual George Orwell Lecture at the festival, which took place on Saturday March 9, 2013. This year, the George Orwell lecture was given by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, former United Nations official, a well-known author, and elected member of the Indian Parliament. Dr. Tharoor spoke on the topic of 'Globalisation, Disruption and the Human Imagination,' and will be introduced by British Consul General Ed Hobart.

The Orwell Lecture is one of the flagship events of the Festival, and commemorates the life and work of British author and social activist, George Orwell. Each year, a distinguished speaker responds to this great author, and highlights aspects of his writing or his social engagement.