Khaled Ghattass gives a talk on love and life at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina on 16 December

Dr. Khaled Ghattass is coming to Alexandria. The Lebanese speaker and author will give a live talk in the Great Hall of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina on Wednesday 16 December, according to the event's Tickets Marche page. The evening is titled "Between the Strange and the Prevailing: A Gathering About Love and Life".

Ghattass has built a large following across the Arab world for talks that mix science, philosophy and storytelling, and his evenings in Egypt tend to fill big halls. The organisers, Fada Arts, describe this one as "an intimate evening of reflection, insight, and human connection", in which he takes on human behaviour, relationships, identity, change and the big questions people carry around with them.

The setting gives the night extra weight. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina in El Shatby, on the city's seafront, is one of Egypt's main cultural landmarks, and its Great Hall hosts concerts, conferences and lectures through the year. For Cairo readers, it makes a good reason for a winter trip to Alexandria, and the date falls on a Wednesday, so plan a day off or an early start back.

Tickets come in five levels: Silver Close at EGP 550, Gold Close at EGP 750, Platinum Close at EGP 950, Premium Close at EGP 1,250 and Elite Close at EGP 1,500. Doors open at 5:30pm and the talk starts at 7pm. The event is for over-16s only: everyone aged 16 and above needs a full ticket, and younger visitors are not admitted. Food and drink are not allowed in the hall, and taking photos or filming is prohibited, so expect phones to stay away. The library has parking, toilets, food outlets and security.

If you want a seat, book on Tickets Marche, where the cheaper sections at his talks usually sell first. Arrive by 6:30pm to park in El Shatby and get through security before the doors close on the start. The talk's language is not stated on the page; his talks are usually given in Arabic.