Dubai: The Museum of the Future will host acclaimed Algerian novelist Waciny Laredj for a special session exploring the future of reading in an increasingly digital world. The event will take place on 24th January as part of the museum's Master Class series, in collaboration with the Great Arab Minds initiative.
According to Emirates News Agency, the lecture will focus on the changing role of reading in a digital age, exploring how technology is influencing literary creation and reader engagement. This session marks the first Master Class of 2026 and reflects the Museum of the Future's role as the official headquarters of the Great Arab Minds initiative. Launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, the initiative aims to support Arab creativity and strengthen cultural momentum across the region.
The Museum provides a knowledge- and arts-driven platform that connects Arab creative minds with their audiences, expanding opportunities for collaboration among artists, thinkers, and scientists across disciplines. In this upcoming lecture, Waciny Laredj will pose a simple but profound question: what does it mean to write in a world that is changing faster than ever? He will explore how writing can help us make sense of contemporary challenges, connect human experience across generations, and reflect on the role of storytelling in our lives.
Drawing on his experience with historical fiction, Laredj will consider how stories from the past can speak to the present, offering a bridge between memory, imagination, and the questions we face today. During the lecture, he will delve into the pressures and possibilities facing writing today and how rapid technological change is reshaping the way we read and engage with stories. Additionally, he will discuss how literature can help navigate questions of identity, both personal and cultural, in a world where borders and traditions are constantly intersecting.
The Master Class series will continue throughout 2026, bringing together leading Arab figures in literature, architecture, arts, and technology, among others. By offering a space for dialogue, creativity, and exchange, the series reinforces the Museum of the Future's role as a hub for cultural conversation and a platform for inspiring the next generation of Great Arab Minds. Previous sessions have featured internationally renowned figures such as Iraqi artist Dia Al-Azzawi and Jordanian architect Sahel Al-Hiyari, winners of the Great Arab Minds Award 2024 in their respective fields.
