Enormous response to Arab Reading Challenge

DUBAI // A competition launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid to encourage youngsters to read Arabic books has attracted up to 10 per cent of students in the Arab World, its organisers say.

In September last year Sheikh Mohammed, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Arab Reading Challenge, which attracted more than 3.5 million pupils of 54 nationalities who collectively read more than 150 million books.

The winners will receive Dh11 million worth of prizes at an awards ceremony at Dubai Opera next Monday.

Pupils from 21 countries, their parents, head teachers, government dignitaries and diplomats from home and abroad have been invited to attend.

Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, said “we are only steps away from the coronation of the challenge champion following months of unremitting efforts” by the organisers and ministries of education in Arab countries.

The reading challenge was “designed to inculcate the habit of reading and a passion for knowledge in future generations in the Arab world was reflected in the strong response to the challenge”.

Mr Al Gergawi said the original target for the challenge was to have one million pupils, and he hoped next year’s challenge would attract even more.

“Our goal is to attract 50 per cent of Arab students over the next four years,” he said.