The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) is offering a rich cultural programme for National Reading Month, targeting all members of the community, in line with the UAE’s declaration of 2025 as the "Year of Community".

Held in the city of Al Ain and across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi more broadly, the planned activities aim to promote the Arabic language and enrich the culture of the community by encouraging a love of reading in society. It also emphasises the role of books in empowering people and increasing their awareness and knowledge to serve their community.

The programme will be hosting a group of writers, creators, and thinkers to share their inspiring experiences. The agenda also includes workshops in various fields and special reading activities under the Kalima Reading Club, which will discuss notable books such as "Enlightenment of Water" by Emirati author Lulwah Ahmed Al Mansouri and "The Philosophy of Tragedy in the Literature of Dostoevsky and Nietzsche".

His Excellency Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Executive Director of the ALC, said: "The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre has recently launched its Community Campaign to Support Sustainable Reading for the first half of 2025, which includes a series of activities to be held during the Reading Month initiative, in an effort to foster a strong connection with books among all members of the community, while establishing a lasting bond with the Arabic language, enhancing its presence as a pillar of sustainable development".

"The programme offers a variety of activities that appeals to all segments of society, striving to meet their intellectual needs through workshops, lectures, seminars, creative writing activities, reading sessions, and book discussions, as well as visits to libraries and historical and heritage sites". HE added. "The visits will be hosted by Qasr Al Hosn, Bait Mohammed Bin Khalifa in Al Ain, the Family Development Foundation, Abu Dhabi Children’s Library, Abrahamic Family House, and United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain".

HE Al Tunaiji asserted that the ALC is committed to help strengthen the status of the Arabic language in society and promote reading among all of its members, particularly the younger generations. "With this goal in mind, we made sure to communicate with young people in the language of their time - technology - while working to leverage the potential of artificial intelligence", he explained. "We were also keen to cooperate with entities and institutions that have close connections to young people, such as schools, universities, and clubs, among others, to offer the youth a range of innovative initiatives and sustainable programmes, rooted in our community values".

The National Reading Month coincides with key local and international events, and the ALC’s programme for the month-long initiative includes activities dedicated to each occasion, while remaining aligned with the objectives of the Reading Month and "Year of Community" initiatives.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, which falls on 8 March every year, the Centre organised a reading and critical thinking workshop in collaboration with the Family Development Foundation titled "Arab Women in Literary Texts: Symbols of Strength and Inspiration".

Meanwhile, on Emirati Children’s Day, the ALC presented an event titled "The Bilingual Child", while two other events will be organised to mark World Poetry Day: "Ramadan Spirituality in Arabic Poetry" and "Poetry between the Beauty of Fus’ha and Warmth of Nabati". An event dedicated to authentic Emirati heritage is also on the agenda, to be held under the title "The Global History of Coffee and Its Role in Emirati Heritage".

For its part, the ALC’s Khazanat Al Kutub initiative has acquired hundreds of titles during its tours in various locations across the capital Abu Dhabi and the city of Al Ain. The initiative targets students and staff of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) to encourage sustainable reading and provide them with access to books at nominal prices.

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre’s Reading Month programme features activities and events designed to motivate all members of the community to read and encourage them to actively participate in making reading a daily habit.