H.H. Sheikh Mohammed lauds UAE's reading champions

The winners of the UAE qualifiers for the 7th Arab Reading Challenge were crowned in Dubai on Friday.

Amna Mohammad Al Mansoori, who read more than 128 books during the academic year was declared the winner of the UAE challenge, while Gharib Al Yamahi came first in the People of Determination category.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, congratulated the winners.

"Today, the UAE celebrates 514,000 students from schools across the country, who have participated in the Arab Reading Challenge – which has seen a total participation of 24.8 million students from around the world," Sheikh Mohammed said on Twitter.

"We are very proud of this year’s participants, hopeful for a new generation that loves reading, and reassured that our future will be in the hands of a generation passionate about learning and knowledge," he added.

Al Mansoori is a Grade 11 student at Aisha bint Abi Baker School in Abu Dhabi, while Al Yamahi is a Grade 12 student at Hamad bin Abdullah Al Sharqi Secondary School (Cycle 3) in Fujairah.

.@HHShkMohd congratulates winners of the 7th edition of the Arab Reading Challenge – UAE Category. The winners were honoured during a special ceremony held at the Higher Colleges of Technology for Men in #Dubai. https://t.co/OhAGj0xGD4 pic.twitter.com/Lm744Nr4R0

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 7, 2023

"Two years ago, Amna lost the ability to walk, but that did not stop her. She soldiered ahead and soiled across the vast ocean of knowledge and literature. The challenge was the beginning of a life-changing experience.

"Today, Amna can walk once again, she has won the Reading Challenge and has authored two stories. In a few days, she will represent the UAE in the International Physics Olympiad in Tokyo. Amna’s challenge was to rebuild herself and regain control of her life. This is what we want for all UAE youth," said Sheikh Mohammed.

"Gharib is blind, but is familiar with great achievements. He has read 130 braille books, writes articles and is both an articulate speaker and outstanding student. When a blind person reads 130 books, those with healthy eyesight must look again at what they read," added His Highness.

The ceremony also included announcements of the Outstanding Supervisor Award, which was awarded to Noora Al Shehhi from Sharjah Educational Zone, and the Best School Award, which went to Emirates National Schools of Al Ain Education Zone.

Organized by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, the Arab Reading Challenge reflects the vision of Sheikh Mohammed and his belief that “reading is the first step towards a better future driven by knowledge and learning.”

The Challenge aims to highlight the importance of reading, develop comprehension and self-expression using correct Arabic language, and nurture creative thinking skills to help enrich Arabic content.