Join our subscription list and receive up-to-date news on what is new in the publishing industry Nationally & Internationally.
Encouraging reading for pleasure is one of the mandates of EPA and there have already been a number of running initiatives across the UAE to encourage adults and children to read. These are:
Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) is one of the largest book fairs in the world, the most prestigious in the Arab world and home to the most exciting literary event in the region. The main aim of SIBF is to encourage reading among people, especially the younger generation, by making quality books accessible to them at affordable prices.
The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is the most professionally organised, most ambitious and fastest growing book fair in the Middle East and North Africa. Abu Dhabi is the motor driving the professional and commercial development of the regional publishing industry, and is financially and philosophically committed to the long-term expansion of the global book business.
UAE declares 2016 as Year of Reading. The year 2016 has been declared the Year of Reading in the UAE by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to create a generation of book lovers and to consolidate the UAE''s position as a global capital for culture and knowledge.
The 'Home Library' initiative is in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to provide every home in the UAE with a library. It aims to promote a reading culture and increase knowledge in every household, so that reading will contribute to elevating the cultural sphere. The Library for Every Home initiative aims to help all individuals develop spiritually and intellectually in the UAE in general and in Sharjah in particular.
With the aim of enriching cultural identity and empowering Emirati creativity, under Her Highness Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al-Qasimi, Knowledge Without Borders has launched an initiative to publish 1001 first edition Arabic books to captivate readers of all ages and interests. With this creative project, the Emirati community has an opportunity to fulfill their writing ambitions and influence today’s society by sharing their beautiful stories, unique messages and educational research. By doing so, they will be part of developing the culture of reading, in-line with His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, declaring 2016 the Year of Reading.
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award commemorates the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and his pioneering role in promoting national unity and development. The Award, and its associated accolades, are presented annually to outstanding writers, intellectuals, and publishers, as well as young talent whose writing and translation in humanities objectively enriches Arab intellectual, cultural, literary and social life. An independent cultural initiative, administered by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, the awards are worth AED 7 million (US $1.9m) annually.
Kitab Bus, the National Mobile Library, is a project launched by “Kitab” in November 2009 at the headquarters of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA). Started in collaboration with the German Cultural Center (Goethe Institute), UAE and with the support of TCA, the initiative aims to promote a culture of reading and facilitate easy access to books by taking them right to people’s doorsteps across the Abu Dhabi Emirate.
An educational campaign, part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, in Ramadan 2016 aiming to distribute 5 million books to children in refugee camps and schools in need around the world. This campaign is yet another initiative through which the UAE expresses its passion for serving humanity. It represents the UAE’s transition from feeding the hungry and quenching thirst, to nurturing the mind and the soul during the holy month of Ramadan.
"Lughati" (Arabic for “my language”) is the first-of-its-kind initiative that was originally launched in 2013, targeting students to make learning Arabic easy and more accessible to them. “Lughati” will assist students in government schools in Sharjah utilising the latest technology and apps to make learning fun. Through Lughati, Arabic for "My Language", 25,000 students and 1000 teachers in Sharjah’s government schools will receive tablets that have been equipped with specially designed Arabic language educational programmes and applications.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF), a pioneering foundation in the field of developing positive energy and building capacity of the youth to develop knowledge-based societies, announced that Dubai Statistics Center (DSC) has joined the "My Family Reads" initiative, which aims at creating a knowledge-based society promoting the culture of reading for all members of society by providing them with knowledge packages containing a selection of books on various topics in various spheres of life.
Libraries
UAE takes pride in having a variety of libraries across the country. Browse our list of libraries in each emirate here.
Subscribe
Join our subscription list and receive up-to-date news on what is new in the publishing industry nationally and internationally.
Become a Member
Become a member of EPA today and benefit from our team of Experts who will assist you with improving your publishing business practice and network with the industry’s finest.