UAE Celebrates Student Literacy With Sheikh Mohammed At Arab Reading Challenge

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, congratulated the winners of the UAE-level qualifiers for the 8th Arab Reading Challenge. On his official X account, he expressed pride in the 700,000 students who participated, with many completing the challenge of reading 50 books throughout the academic year.

"I am incredibly proud of the 700,000 students across the UAE who participated in the Arab Reading Challenge, with many completing the challenge of reading 50 books throughout the academic year. Congratulations to the winners who were announced today. Their accomplishment fills me with optimism for the Emirati generation who demonstrate dedication to reading and acquiring knowledge. I am confident that these youth, proud of their identity, will have the understanding and capacity to appreciate the diverse cultures of our world, all while playing a vital role in building the future of the UAE," said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The latest edition of the Arab Reading Challenge saw a record 28.2 million students from 50 countries participating. This included representation from 229,620 schools and guidance from 154,643 supervisors. The initiative has grown significantly since its inception in 2015-2016 under directives from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Ahmad Faisal Ali emerged as the winner at the UAE level among over 700,000 students from 1,174 schools. These participants were guided by nearly 1,900 supervisors. The ceremony to honour these winners was organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) at Dubai World Trade Center.

The ceremony was attended by Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education; Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture; Maryam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State; and Saeed Mohammad Al Eter from MBRGI. Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri crowned Ahmad Faisal Ali as the UAE winner during this event.

Ninth grader Ahmad Faisal Ali from Zayed Education Complex in Al Barsha received his title in a ceremony attended by Dr. Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama and other officials. Eng. Mohammed Al Qasem awarded Asem Abbara as "Outstanding Supervisor" and recognised Al Ebdaa Model School – Cycle 1 in Dubai as "Outstanding School."

Intense Competition

The competition was fierce at the UAE level with ten students making it to the final round. These included Saud Ahmad Salem Al Kaabi from Sharjah and Khalid Abdullah Al Hammadi from Abu Dhabi among others. Sulaiman Khamis Sulaiman Al Khadim won in the People of Determination category after intense competition among three finalists.

In its previous edition, 24.8 million students from 46 countries participated in this challenge. Abdullah Al-Bari from Qatar and Amna Almansoori from UAE shared the title of Arab Reading Champion in 2023.

Investing in Future Generations

Sarah Al Amiri highlighted that this initiative embodies UAE’s cultural message to the world. She noted that it underscores UAE’s commitment to investing in future generations through knowledge empowerment. Over time, this challenge has become a key initiative attracting thousands annually with a significant increase in participation figures since its inception.

Al Amiri congratulated all winners and urged students to continue their reading journey while gaining insights into various cultures and genres. She also praised supervisors and judges for their efforts in making this edition successful.

Key Successes

Dr. Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama remarked on how ongoing successes reflect this initiative’s prestigious status across Arab communities worldwide. He noted that UAE students had an outstanding presence during this edition with record participation and strong interaction.

"UAE students had an outstanding presence during the 8th Arab Reading Challenge, in terms of record participation, strong interaction, commitment to the Challenge criteria and relentless effort to excel and move ahead," he said while congratulating all winners and participants.

Honing Skills Through Reading

The Arab Reading Challenge aims to foster an extensive Arabic reading movement encouraging future generations to use Arabic daily while acquiring necessary knowledge for skill development. It also helps build values promoting tolerance and coexistence through learning about other cultures.

This initiative opens doors for global dialogue by instilling principles that encourage youth to appreciate diverse cultures while contributing positively towards creating a better future.

With inputs from WAM