The Ministry has launched the “Create Reading” initiative, which provides financial grants to support and empower national reading projects.

The Ministry of Culture and Youth today unveiled the activities of the National Reading Month 2023, which kicks off in March every year, and is one of the most prominent local cultural events that translate the vision of the UAE and its leadership in consolidating the culture of science and knowledge, providing a fertile environment and appropriate infrastructure for the knowledge society.

The press conference was attended by His Excellency Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Youth, Her Excellency Moza Ibrahim Al Akraf Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Community Development, His Excellency Abdullah Majid Al Ali, Director General of the National Archives and Library, His Excellency Dr. Saeed Kharbash, CEO of the Arts and Literature Sector,  Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, His Excellency Mohammed Al Hashemi, Executive Director of the Student Wellbeing Sector, Emirates Schools Establishment, and Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre.

The conference was also attended by H.E. Ali Obaid, Vice Chairman of the Culture and Science Symposium, Jamal Al Shehhi, Board Member  of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al  Maktoum Library Foundation, Shaikha Al Muhairi, Director of Public Libraries – Abu Dhabi, Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, Iman Bushleibi, Director of Public Libraries Department – Sharjah, Sharjah Book Authority, Dania Droubi, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Education Initiatives at Emirates Literature Foundation, and Asma Al Mutawa, Founder and President of Al Multaqa Literary Salon.

Speaking at the press conference, His Excellency Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Youth, said: “The Reading Month reflects the Ministry’s keenness to translate the vision of the UAE and its leadership in consolidating the culture of science and knowledge, providing a fertile environment and appropriate infrastructure for the knowledge society, and a qualitative step that complements a series of cultural projects and initiatives launched by the country, as this month is an ideal opportunity to devote the culture of reading and make it a daily habit and provide all segments of society with authentic knowledge through an integrated cultural program that includes diversity in Events and programs through which the Ministry seeks to preserve the country’s cultural, intellectual and knowledge achievements, and to accumulate experiences and expertise aimed at building a civilized model to be followed in the field of reading and knowledge.”

His Excellency continued: “This year, the Ministry has prepared an integrated cultural programme characterised by inclusiveness and diversity, and falls within the framework of a sustainable vision in which various local cultural entities and institutions seek to consolidate the culture of reading, which contributes to placing all initiatives aimed at raising the level of knowledge, culture and creativity among the priorities of the plans and visions of government and private agencies, so the Ministry attaches great importance to reading as the real and only way to knowledge.”