UAE declares 2016 as Year of Reading

The year 2016 has been declared the year of reading in the UAE to create a generation of book lovers and consolidate the UAE's position as a global capital for culture and knowledge.

It was declared on Saturday by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Cabinet approved the declaration of 2016 as the year of reading and instructed the competent authorities to start preparing a national framework that promotes reading among Emirati generations, in a quest to create a generation of book lovers and lifetime readers.

Shaikh Khalifa thanked all bodies, organisations, departments and individuals in the country for their contribution to the success of 2015 the year of innovation, and stressed that the UAE is now on the right track for innovation and will reap its fruits soon.

"We gave our directives that the year 2016 be the year of reading because reading the basic skill for a new generation of scientists, intellectual, researchers and innovators,” the President said.

He added: "Establishment of a knowledge-based economy and changing the path of development is based on science and innovation. This requires nurturing a generation of readers and fully aware of developments happening around them in the world as well as of and the best ideas and the latest theories.”

Shaikh Khalifa underlined the importance of reading in broadening one's intellect and knowledge, as well as in promoting tolerance, openness and intercultural communication.

"Our goal is to consolidate the UAE as a global capital of culture, bring about lifelong behavioural change and immune next generations culturally," he said.

No progress without reading

Earlier, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, declared 2016 as the Year of Reading in the UAE, under the guidance of Shaikh Khalifa.

On his Twitter page, Shaikh Mohammad said the country was aiming to become a beacon of knowledge, "just as Baghdad, Andalusia and other civilisations seeking enlightenment were”.
Source: Gulf News