Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, along with the Ruler of Dubai, convened with the victors of the 8th Arab Reading Challenge, spearheaded by Ahmed Faisal Ali, the UAE's champion in the challenge, and Sulaiman Khamis Al Khadim, who secured the top position in the People of Determination category.
The Arab Reading Challenge stands as the most extensive reading competition globally. The eighth iteration witnessed the involvement of 28.8 million pupils from 50 nations. In his remarks, Sheikh Mohammed expressed, "Our unwavering backing of literacy campaigns is rooted in our conviction that the inaugural divine message imparted to us was the command to 'read'... and that the crux of a nation's and society's progress is embedded in the richness of their cultural and intellectual heritage."
The Arab Reading Challenge has progressively drawn a greater number of participants each year. The inaugural edition in 2015 featured the participation of 3.6 million students across 19 countries, whereas the 7th edition in 2023 attracted 24.8 million students from 46 countries. The Ruler also extended his felicitations to the contestants who advanced to the national stage of the challenge, praising their steadfastness and encouraging them to persist in their reading endeavors.
He further conveyed his congratulations to the parents and educators of these students, recognizing their pivotal role in fostering participation in the world's foremost Arabic reading initiative.
