DUBAI: The Arab Reading Challenge, one of the initiatives of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, is the largest cultural and knowledge-based initiative of its kind, aimed at instilling the habit of reading among Arab students. The initiative seeks to enhance awareness of the importance of reading and cultivate a creative generation capable of innovation in various fields.
In a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Emirati writer Gaith Al Hosani said, “The Arab Reading Challenge, following the intellectual approach established by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, underscores the necessity of free reading as a civilisational tool and a key platform for bringing nations together through literature.” He added that the initiative encourages cultural openness and fosters the intellectual development of young generations.
A couple of students weighed in on the initiative in an interview with WAM. Areej Samir Ashmawi, a s
tudent from the UAE, said, “The Arab Reading Challenge nurtures the mind and intellect, and reading instils confidence.” She noted that this initiative opens new horizons for students and helps them develop their personal and intellectual skills.
Meanwhile, Turkey Abdullah Al-Halabi, a student from Yemen, stated, that the initiative enhances the status of the Arabic language among younger generations and helps to promote it more broadly.
Sulaiman Khamis Al-Awali, the Arab Reading Challenge champion for People of Determination in the UAE, highlighted the importance of reading in developing linguistic, cognitive, and intellectual skills, saying, “Reading opens vast doors of knowledge and enables People of Determination to engage more deeply in society.”
The initiative also includes participants from 28 non-Arab countries. Among them, Ikram, of Algerian descent but representing Russia, told WAM, “The Arab Reading Challenge raises awareness of the need to take pride in our language and culture.” She emphasised
that participation in this initiative strengthens cultural identity and gives students the opportunity to explore their heritage from a broader perspective.
This initiative is part of its core objectives to raise public awareness of the state of reading in the Arab world, enhance national pride, and foster a sense of belonging.
Source: Emirates News Agency