Latest news with #ArabReadingChallenge
Gulf Today
4 days ago
- General
- Gulf Today
Sheikh Mohammed hails Egypt's record participation in Arab Reading Challenge
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, praised Egypt's record-breaking participation in the Arab Reading Challenge, the world's largest reading competition, on Tuesday as over 19 million Egyptian students from the Ministry of Education and Al Azhar institutions took part in this cultural initiative. In a post on his X account, Sheikh Mohammed stated: 'The Arab Republic of Egypt celebrated its record participation in the Arab Reading Challenge, the world's largest reading competition as more than 19 million Egyptian students from the Ministry of Education and Al-Azhar participated in this cultural movement.' Sheikh Mohammed added: "Our greetings to Egypt's leadership, our appreciation to Egypt's students, our gratitude to all educators in Egypt, and our congratulations to the Egyptian winners. We look forward to welcoming them in Dubai next October, Inshallah, to celebrate their achievements alongside their peers from the Arab world'.
Sharjah 24
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
SCRF: Child's agency in choosing books should be respected
Moderated by performing artist and presenter Lamya Tawfik, the session had an engaging discussion by Colleen Nelson from Canada, Samina Mishra from India, Dr Ahlam Nuway-war from Morocco and Nadia AlNajjar from the UAE, all multifaceted personalities with a passion for storytelling. Colleen Nelson, a celebrated author of Young Adult fiction whose works include Harvey Comes Home and Mystery at the Biltmore, noted that reading preferences of children changed as they grew older. As a teacher librarian who taught the 4-14 age group, Colleen said she guided students in choosing the right book. 'If the subject matter is too mature for a child or if they chose English as a second language, I advise them to reconsider. If they cannot pronounce five words in the first page itself, I tell them to choose another book. As long as the page is not intimidating or makes for quicker reading, it should be fine,' she pointed out. As for her writing style, she stated: 'I don't know what direction my book takes as it is always a journey. I let the publishing house be the gatekeeper.' Samina Mishra, a documentary maker and author from New Delhi, said that in a diverse country like India children experience many kinds of childhoods. 'I feel a child should be given the right to choose though we can share what we felt or enjoyed. Children today come from another time, so what worked for us may not work for them -- like the Enid Blyton stories.' She referred to her picture storybook about a 12-year-old girl who didn't survive three days of walking from the capital to her village during the Covid-19 lockdown. While the book did not explicitly state the child's fate, Mishra felt it was okay for a privileged child to understand another child's life of hardship. 'The role of an adult becomes critical here – the one who reads to the child and knows the world.' Dr Ahlam Nuway-war, a university professor and translator and a member of Morocco's reading committee for the Arab Reading Challenge, said the child should be given the freedom to choose books and thus increase their passion for reading. 'We need to respect children's choices and help develop their taste. Good illustrations play an important role in early childhood books.' As for folktales and fairy tales, she said they could be readapted to new circumstances. 'Don't wait for Prince Charming to marry or wake up the heroine,' she concluded. Nadia AlNajjar, an award-winning Emirati author of children's books, agreed that folk tales could be rewritten in a modern way but felt they have the magic to attract children. 'Each child is unique. While we may help younger children in reading, we should give older ones the freedom to choose and respect their reading instincts,' she added. Publishing houses also share a big responsibility in making books attractive for children, she noted. Taking place from April 23 to May 4 at Expo Centre Sharjah, the 16th edition of SCRF promises an immersive experience under the theme 'Dive into Books'. This year's agenda will feature 133 guests from 70 countries, and 122 Arab and international publishing houses from 22 nations.
Gulf Today
08-04-2025
- General
- Gulf Today
32m students from 50 nations took part in Arab Reading Challenge, says Mohammed
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, stated on his X account: "The Arabic language is the noblest of languages. It is the container of our culture, the symbol of our civilisation, and the emblem of our unity and history. The eternal Arabic language has no childhood or ageing. it is preserved by Allah. The Arab Reading Challenge is one of our cherished projects to strengthen in the hearts of our generations. Its ninth edition witnessed the participation of 32 million students from 132,000 schools across 50 countries worldwide.' Sheikh Mohammed added, 'I am proud of every participating student, of our great Arabic language, proud of our history and identity. I am optimistic about Arab generations renewing their thinking and knowledge and firmly rooted in their heritage and culture.'
Gulf Today
15-02-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
UAE calls for developing deal on facilitating trade exchange
Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, has affirmed the UAE's full commitment to implementing the provisions of the Agreement on Facilitating and Developing Trade Exchange among Arab Countries. Touq Al Marri emphasised the need to develop this agreement in line with current economic developments and challenges. He also urged the activation of the Arab Framework Agreement of Liberalisation of Trade in Services Among Arab Countries, noting that the Arab region possesses promising investment opportunities and capital surpluses but requires practical steps to fully utilise these potentials. The minister made the remarks in his speech at the 115th session of the Arab Economic and Social Council, which was held on Friday at the HQ of the General Secretariat of the Arab League at the ministerial level. During the session, the minister handed over the presidency of the current session to the Kingdom of Bahrain after the UAE chaired the previous session. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has handed over the presidency of the preparatory meetings for the 115th meeting of the Arab Economic and Social Council (AESC) to Bahrain. The meetings commenced on Sunday at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Arab League, where the Social Committee convened to prepare the draft agenda related to the social dossier of the session. The UAE delegation was led by Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Assistant Under-Secretary for Foreign Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Economy, as well as several officials at the ministry. In his opening speech, Al Kait reaffirmed the UAE's unwavering commitment to supporting all frameworks of joint Arab action across various fields, including the social sector and its associated projects and initiatives, in line with the vision and directives of its leadership. He highlighted that during its presidency of the 114th session of the Council, the UAE was keen to support and endorse various Arab efforts to advance social progress, contributing positively to comprehensive and sustainable development. He also underscored the significance of pioneering initiatives that bring tangible progress and prosperity to Arab societies, citing the Arab Reading Challenge as one of the region's most prominent knowledge and cultural initiatives driving social development. Al Kait stressed the importance of continuing joint efforts to implement the resolutions of the 114th session of the Economic and Social Council, which serve as a fundamental pillar and roadmap for achieving common objectives in economic and social development. He announced the formal handover of the presidency of the current session to Bahrain and extended his best wishes for its success in supporting Arab development efforts and enhancing the work of the Arab Economic and Social Council across various sectors to promote prosperity for Arab nations and peoples. Meanwhile Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, emphasised the private sector's role as a key partner in driving national economic growth and boosting its competitiveness at both regional and international levels. In a session titled 'Hard Power: A Wake-Up Call for Businesses Amid Global Economic Shifts,' held at the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in January 2025, Al Marri added that the UAE has consistently involved the private sector in numerous national strategies and plans launched over the past years, creating a unique model of successful public-private partnerships in the country. He stated that the number of new economic licences issued in UAE markets totalled 200,000 in 2024. The session explored the impact of global tensions on the private sector and how businesses are rethinking strategies to strengthen their tools and adopt sustainable practices to address economic challenges regionally and internationally. It also discussed mechanisms to enhance profitability across various economic sectors, as well as the importance of providing additional incentives and enablers to encourage entrepreneurs to achieve high growth rates and expand into vital and sustainable sectors. Bin Touq said, 'The UAE has pioneered a visionary approach to developing a dynamic and competitive economic legislative framework based on global best practices. Over the past four years, the nation has issued and updated over 30 key economic laws, policies, and resolutions, focusing on new and future-centric sectors, including e-commerce, arbitration, commercial transactions, family businesses, and cooperatives. 'These efforts have made the UAE a more attractive destination for businesses and entrepreneurs from around the world, strengthening its position as a regional and global hub for business and investment.'
Gulf Today
10-02-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
President and Bahrain King discuss deep-rooted relations
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, at his residence in Abu Dhabi. During the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed and King Hamad, along with those in attendance, engaged in cordial discussions reflecting the deep-rooted fraternal ties between the UAE and Bahrain and their people. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening cooperation across all fields to support development priorities and sustainable prosperity for both nations and their citizens. The meeting was attended by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; Sheikh Mohamed Bin Hamad Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President; Faisal Abdulaziz Al Bannai, Adviser to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs, and a number of Sheikhs and officials from both sides. Meanwhile, the UAE has handed over the presidency of the preparatory meetings for the 115th meeting of the Arab Economic and Social Council to Bahrain. The meetings commenced on Sunday at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Arab League, where the Social Committee convened to prepare the draft agenda related to the social dossier of the session. The UAE delegation was led by Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Assistant Under-Secretary for Foreign Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Economy, as well as several officials at the ministry. In his opening speech, Al Kait reaffirmed the UAE's unwavering commitment to supporting all frameworks of joint Arab action across various fields, including the social sector and its associated projects and initiatives, in line with the vision and directives of its leadership. He highlighted that during its presidency of the 114th session of the Council, the UAE was keen to support and endorse various Arab efforts to advance social progress, contributing positively to comprehensive and sustainable development. He also underscored the significance of pioneering initiatives that bring tangible progress and prosperity to Arab societies, citing the Arab Reading Challenge as one of the region's most prominent knowledge and cultural initiatives driving social development. Al Kait stressed the importance of continuing joint efforts to implement the resolutions of the 114th session of the Economic and Social Council, which serve as a fundamental pillar and roadmap for achieving common objectives in economic and social development. Also during the day, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed Umaro Sissoco Embaló, President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau. During their meeting at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi, the two leaders discussed cooperation, particularly in the areas of development, economy, trade, and investment, with a focus on advancing shared development priorities and fulfilling the aspirations of their peoples for progress and prosperity. The discussions also covered a range of issues of mutual interest, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation between the UAE and Guinea-Bissau for the benefit of both nations and their citizens. As part of the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed and Umaro Sissoco Embaló exchanged honours. Sheikh Mohamed conferred the Order of Zayed, the UAE's highest decoration awarded to heads of state, upon the President of Guinea-Bissau in recognition of his efforts to enhance bilateral relations. In turn, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló presented Sheikh Mohamed with the Amílcar Cabral Medal, the highest honour granted by Guinea-Bissau, in appreciation of his role in strengthening ties between the two countries across various fields and as a testament to the deep bonds of friendship that unite them. The meeting and the exchange of honours were attended by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; Sheikh Mohamed Bin Hamad Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President; Ali Mohammed Hammad Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for National Security; Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, and a number of top officials.
