Maitha Al Khayat is an Emirati mother of five. She’s a children’s author and illustrator, and also trains in writing and illustrating picture books. Maitha is a Board Member at the UAE Board of Books for Young People - UAEBBY, and an ambassador at The Cultural Office Women’s Creative Network. In less than 10 years, Al Khayat has published 171 books; some translated into English and Turkish, and used in curriculums at schools around the country. Her book “My Own Special Way” received an award for best book in the Children’s Forum, Riyadh (2011), and it was also nominated for best translated book at the Marsh Awards, UK (2013). Her book “Turn Off the Lights” was awarded for best picture book at the Publisher’s Forum, Sharjah (2016). “My father’s Date Palm Trees” was nominated best picture book illustrations Zayed Book Award (2020). Her latest works is illustrating the first Children’s Law Book in the UAE “Wadeema” with Dubai Courts. Maitha writes for children’s TV shows, including Emirati cartoon series “Hamdoon” and recently a contemporary dance show titled “The Pearl Diver’s Daughter”.