Abu Dhabi: Under the directives of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 65,000 books from the 33rd Abu Dhabi International Book Fair have been distributed to libraries at 220 schools across the UAE.
Funded by a financial grant, this initiative aims to promote a culture of reading among students by providing support to school libraries.
The books and publications were purchased from 77 publishing houses that participated in the book fair, in an attempt to enhance students’ knowledge and expand the schools’ educational resources.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “The Arabic language, with its diverse and rich literary heritage, is more than just a means of communication. Our language is a powerful and inclusive tool for innovative and critical thinking, enabling us to unite in our thoughts and words. This vital and generous grant from President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will encourage reading and the protection of our language, help us foster deeper understanding, and bridge the many cultures and people who speak it, ensuring that our collective wisdom continues to guide future generations.”
Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), stated, “The grant from President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is a continuation of His Highness’ unlimited support to the culture and education sectors.
“We appreciate this significant support from His Highness the President, who always inspires us to persevere in our efforts to keep the local and Arab publishing markets competitive and position the book fair as a platform for promoting knowledge.
“This grant forms another milestone in the long and continuous journey initiated by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE, to support the publishing and knowledge sectors, and ensure that books continue to be held in the same esteem,” he added.
This grant contributed to strengthening the UAE’s intellectual and cultural landscape by offering students a large and diverse range of knowledge resources and titles featured at the fair, stimulating their creative thinking and imagination, and deepening their connection with books. Moreover, the grant offered the publishing sector and book industry an opportunity to continue their efforts and expand their contributions.
Also read: Abu Dhabi private schools praised for enhancing Emirati cultural understanding
books Abu Dhabi International Book Fair schools
