Dubai Culture Launches ‘Reading Box’ Initiative for National Month of Reading

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate's dedicated entity for culture, arts and heritage, announced the launch of its ‘Reading Box’ initiative that hold its first event at The Dubai Mall. This interactive public initiative will run across Dubai from 11 – 24 October in support of the UAE Government’s Year of Reading – a national initiative which was announced by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and supported by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.

The ‘Reading Box’ initiative is organised under the theme of ‘Read, Enjoy, Thrive’ and aims to translate the Authority’s support of the national Month of Reading in October with a focus on promoting culture and reading to all communities in the UAE. The first event of this installation is being held at The Dubai Mall’s, and will later take place at locations across Dubai in collaboration with a number of other organisations.

Acting Director General of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, His Excellency Saeed Al Nabouda, said: “At Dubai Culture we are focused on supporting the UAE Government in achieving its objectives of promoting strong reading habits across all communities, and we are embarking on a number of initiatives that are not only dedicated to these Government objectives, but are also serving the overarching aims of the Dubai Plan 2021 to further establish Dubai credentials as a “ city of happy, creative and empowered people”. To contribute to this broader vision, Dubai Culture is focusing on supporting the UAE National Reading Strategy 2016-2026 and in particular for October as the National Month of Reading, will be delivering a number of activities to encourage everyone in the community to be motivated to pick up a book, draw inspiration from reading and be inspired to develop a life-long reading habit.”

A number of activities will be organised under the ‘Reading Box’ initiative, all of which are designed to promote and encourage strong reading habits across all community members, and with a core focus on children and youth. Highlights at the initiative include a book fair featuring an extensive collection of well-regarded books for all age groups, workshops and reading sessions for children, panel discussions featuring publishers, authors, language specialists, teachers and artists, in addition to organising book signings and engaging competitions. 

‘Reading Box’ initiative will provide a unique experience to participants from all community members, especially young people in all public places, and link this habit to the individual life activities even while shopping in malls, by providing higher quality content on one hand, and attraction and entertainment on the other hand, and make reading as part of the society lifestyle.