UAE Reads campaign aims to prepare a generation of readers

DUBAI: The Ministry of Culture and Youth announced the launch of Reading Month 2022 under the slogan ‘UAE Reads’. The Reading Month embodies the national vision to prepare a generation of readers and establish the UAE as a culture and knowledge hub.

The UAE celebrates Reading Month every March, in accordance with the Cabinet’s decision. As part of this initiative, the Ministry of Culture and Youth along with its federal and local partners executes a month-long programme to foster a knowledge-based society.

Under the aegis of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Reading Month demonstrates the UAE’s leadership’s endeavour to establish a culture of science and knowledge among its people and promote intellectual growth in society.

The initiative aims to establish reading as a habit among 50 per cent of Emirati adults and 80 per cent of school students by the year 2026.

Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, said, “The Reading Month is closely linked to the efforts of the UAE to establish a knowledge-based economy for the country’s progress and the well-being of its citizens and prepare for the future. Promoting a reading culture in society and driving initiatives aimed at raising the level of intellectual growth among its people are key priorities in the annual agenda of the government and private sectors in the UAE.”

She explained, “The Reading Month doesn’t end after a month of reading activities, but it is an ongoing movement to cultivate the habit of reading as a fundamental part of society’s development. The importance of reading not only determines the ability of an individual to acquire language skills but also contributes to their social and cognitive skills. Reading gives us a new perspective on things and an ability to analyse and critique everything. It is an essential part of learning and helps develop our ability to gain knowledge from around the world. It helps us make the right choices in life and develops our personality. Reading is the foundation of a knowledge-based society, which in turn helps build a knowledge-based economy.”

The Reading Month is an annual event during which various government and private entities along with educational and cultural institutions participate in a roster of programmes to build a readers’ society armed with science and knowledge. Reading develops mental faculties and boosts self-confidence, while also helping people achieve professional success. It’s a great tool to enrich one’s mother tongue and helps in learning new languages. Reading fosters constructive cultural dialogue between different peoples and cultures.

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan passed the ten-year National Reading Strategy, a first-of-its-kind strategy in the world. The strategy supports the UAE’s overarching aim of developing human capital and contributing to building better cognitive ability among communities. It will play a key role in supporting national intellectual development and building a knowledge-based society.

The National Reading Strategy establishes binding frameworks for all government agencies in the educational, community, media, and cultural sectors to establish reading among all groups of society in different age groups. It seeks to enshrine reading as an integral part of the country’s social fabric. The strategy covers development, promotion and support systems to foster reading as a cultural construct.

The strategy mandates reading as an inalienable right available to everyone from birth. It earmarks three stages of readers from infancy to the age of four, with one group every two years. The strategy introduces the concept of volunteering by encouraging individuals to devote a few hours of their time to reading for the elderly, sick, children, and those who are unable to read for themselves.

‘UAE Reads’ The choice of the slogan ‘UAE Reads’ for the Reading Month 2022 stems from the UAE government’s drive to promote a culture of reading as a way of life in Emirati society and reading being integral to its institutions and the nation’s development.

The slogan is based on the vision of the late Founding Father of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which goes to say that nation-building is not only focused on material or technological development but depends primarily on building the human capital, which is the true building block of a nation.

The slogan ‘UAE Reads’ also works to enhance community participation and supports institutions to launch activities and events throughout Reading Month, expanding the scope of reading initiatives to touch upon different walks of life.

Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has set the stage for the return of ‘Abu Dhabi Reads’ this March to celebrate UAE Reading Month.

Designed to foster reading as a daily habit among all community segments, ‘Abu Dhabi Reads’ is in line with the national ‘UAE Reads’ campaign objectives of enriching the reading culture and building a future generation of leaders equipped with culture and knowledge.

Sara Musallam, Chairperson at ADEK, said “People are never alone with a book; reading opens the mind to new perspectives and has proven to be a critical enabler in developing students’ knowledge and improving their cognitive and communication skills. In keeping with the National Plan for Reading, we are taking Abu Dhabi Reads campaign to the community to foster the importance of reading and bring books closer to Abu Dhabi schools and the wider community, encouraging them to take up reading as a daily habit.”

‘Abu Dhabi Reads’ comprises two main activations; as of 4th March, ADEK will organise a host of activities at Umm Al Emarat Park from Friday to Sunday. The events will feature a multitude of reading and literature-associated topics, including creative writing, bookmark design, language workshops, storytelling training and public speaking, as well as puppet shows. Children will also have the opportunity to engage in exciting and interactive storytelling sessions presented by Abu Dhabi based authors.

WAM