ArabBaba
UAE community literacy & reading
projects every parent should know about
By Mostafa Hassan
I
n 2016, the UAE declared that it was
The Year of Reading (#ReadingYear).
This was not just a title that
someone put out there. This was
done to promote a love of reading
among people of all ages, and to
position the UAE as a global capital for
culture and knowledge. Since then, the
momentum, which started in 2016 has
increased. Let’s take a look at some of
the great initiatives that started and are
being continued in 2017.
#10Minutes10Days
to the kids. Comments from students
included, “I’m going to ask my dad to
read with me tonight!”
The Reading Nation
The UAE provided a campaign in
2016 that allowed for the donation of
8.2 million books to be available for
underprivileged children around the
world. The community in Dubai rallied
together for donations, book drives,
that kept the drive trending on social
media. Every child should have a book!
This initiative started in early 2016. It
was sponsored and developed with
KHDA, ArabBaba and Emirates LitFest,
to promote parental engagement in
reading with their kids for 10 minutes for
10 days, and posting it on social media.
By signing up and committing, winners
received a year’s supply of books and
a lot of other goodies at a great event
hosted by KHDA. If you walk into KHDA
today, you will still see the board there. #ArabBabaReadingTour
#RMRUAE Emirates Literature Festival
A great opportunity called Real Men
Read UAE that ran through 2016, and
is still running in 2017, was getting
dads involved in reading to kids. KDSL
Global started this. Each quarter, a
new school was picked and a group of
dads and educators would go and read
In 2016, I (ArabBaba) joined hands with
a few schools and nurseries to come
in and read to classes. It was great fun
reading to little ones. Whether it was
Arabic or English, seeing a child’s face
light up because another grownup
wants to come and spend time with
them was miraculous for me. I still go
into schools today.
Since launching in 2009, the 5-day
Emirates Literature Festival has brought
great focus to the joy of reading and
writing. The event brings in great
authors and creates sessions that are
available to the community. It continues
to grow each year.
Virtual books
The UAE government also expanded
programmes to support audio books,
reading
apps
and
e-publishing
platforms. It led us into making sure that
adults found time to read as well.
UAE Reading Law
At the end of 2016, the UAE took
the opportunity to integrate reading
into UAE lifestyle.
Legislation was
announced giving all employees the
right to read during working hours, and
exempts reading materials from fees
and taxes. Yes, even grownups get the
chance to read, even if we are working.
Pickup Teach Middle East Magazine
and start there!
The UAE has initiatives that are
continuous in many ways. It is evident
that it doesn’t take an announcement
for 1 year to make things forge ahead.
Check with your school or nursery
on what they are offering as a part of
the reading initiatives and also check
within the community for reading
programmes. Visit KHDA and the KDSL
Global teams to see what they are up to.
Grab a book and ask your child’s school
if you can come and read to one of the
classes. A few minutes with kids can
create a worthwhile memory. Pick up a
book and hangout with your own kids.
Share with them your love of reading.