Culture Ministry Introduces Reading Advocacy Program
UAE Launches Reading Ambassadors Initiative to Promote a Nationwide Culture of Reading
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken a significant step towards fostering a culture of reading across the nation with the launch of the Reading Ambassadors Initiative. This ambitious project, a collaborative effort with the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and the Federal Youth Authority, aims to make reading a cornerstone of national development.
The initiative's main objective is to embed a strong reading culture nationwide, aligned with the UAE’s broader ambitions for knowledge economy development and educational leadership. It seeks to advance a culture of reading that encourages all segments of society to engage with books and knowledge, reinforcing reading as a valuable and habitual activity.
Notable figures in the inaugural group of Reading Ambassadors include Sheikha Dr. Shamma bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, Dr. Sultan Al Ameemi, and youth champions of the UAE Arab Reading Challenge. These influential mentors have been identified in four categories: writers and pioneers, youth, volunteers, and children.
The Reading Ambassadors will lead impactful reading campaigns, promote best practices, and share success stories. Dedicated spaces within cultural centers will be created for sharing the projects of the Reading Ambassadors, and their efforts will be celebrated in an annual forum accompanied by ongoing media support.
The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood's involvement aligns with the theme of Emirati Children's Day 2025, 'The Right to Identity and National Culture'. This emphasis on Arabic literacy and the preservation of national identity is a key aspect of the initiative, which also encourages community-wide participation in reading-related activities that promote intellectual awareness and critical thinking.
Mubarak Al Nakhi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to making reading a cornerstone of national development. "The Reading Ambassadors Initiative is part of a broader knowledge enrichment strategy that emphasizes the importance of reading for personal empowerment and social advancement," he said. "By collectively encouraging reading as a key pillar of lifelong learning and cultural identity, we aim to solidify the UAE’s status as a leader in education and knowledge-based development."
The synergy between the initiatives highlights the UAE’s commitment to nurturing future generations through cultural and educational engagement. The Reading Ambassadors Initiative, by promoting lifelong knowledge acquisition and supporting the country’s ambitious national objectives related to education and cultural development, is set to play a crucial role in this endeavour.
[1] Source: Khaleej Times, "UAE Launches Reading Ambassadors Initiative to Promote a Culture of Reading" [2] Source: Gulf News, "UAE Arab Reading Challenge Champions Become Reading Ambassadors" [3] Source: Emirates News Agency, "UAE Ministry of Education Collaborates with Foundations to Improve Literacy and Critical Thinking Skills" [4] Source: Arabian Business, "UAE's Reading Ambassadors Initiative Aims to Foster a Nationwide Culture of Reading"
- The UAE's Reading Ambassadors Initiative, a collaboration with the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and the Federal Youth Authority, emphasizes the significance of reading in national development, particularly in educational leadership and the knowledge economy.
- The initiative encourages all segments of society to engage with books and knowledge, with a focus on making reading a habitual activity among the youth, ensuring a future fostered by well-informed, critical-thinking individuals.
- The effort to promote a culture of reading extends beyond the initiative, intertwining with general news and discussions about lifestyle, education-and-self-development, and culture, underscoring the UAE's strong commitment to these areas.
- By fostering a culture of reading, the Reading Ambassadors Initiative aims to solidify the UAE’s status as a leader in education, knowledge-based development, and cultural identity, contributing significantly to the nurturing of future generations in line with national objectives.
