ABU DHABI – Promoting a culture of reading among all segments of the community is a major strategic goal for us at the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center (ALC), as “we strive to align with the wise leadership’s vision regarding the role of science and knowledge as key pillars in the development of our society,” said Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, the Executive Director of the Center.
“By strengthening the habit of reading among people, we aim to contribute to comprehensive development and sustainable education, and to encourage creative and critical thinking. This contributes to creating an intelligent and cultured society that plays an effective role in shaping the future,” he added.
Al Tunaiji made these remarks during the launch of ALC’s ‘Reading in Public’ initiative, which promotes and facilitates the reading of Arabic language content in vital facilities across Abu Dhabi. This initiative seeks to foster cultural awareness and promote learning among diverse segments of the community.
Organized by the Center under the umbrella of its Kalima Reading Club, the initiative encourages reading in hotels, cafes, hospitals, and other vital facilities by providing free publications and print editions of various works from ALC’s Kalima and Esdarat projects across eight locations in Abu Dhabi.
The selection of titles will be continuously refreshed throughout the year to meet the community’s needs and interests, providing them access to the latest released publications.
“Translation is a vital means to support culture and knowledge, and to facilitate understanding of literary and scientific ideas and works,” said Al Tunaiji. “It plays an essential role in promoting cultural exchange, transferring knowledge, and establishing global understanding. With this in mind, the Center is committed to launching initiatives that have a real positive impact on individuals wherever they are – and this is what the ‘Reading in Public’ initiative offers. Books are windows to new worlds, expanding readers’ horizons and understanding across all sectors. This initiative allows us to expand the scope of our partnerships with various entities and work together to promote and advance the Arabic language,” he added.
The launch of the initiative was announced during a partnership signing ceremony between the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center and the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi, which also served as the initiative’s launch location. ‘Reading in Public’ will then expand to seven additional locations in 2024, enabling individuals to make the most of their idle time by expanding their knowledge and engaging with cultural content.
The agreement, signed by Al Tunaiji and Michael Koth, General Manager and Area Vice President of Operations at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi, coordinates joint efforts between the two parties to promote a culture of reading in Abu Dhabi. This includes selecting and designating reader-friendly locations for the public.
Furthermore, the agreement involves collaboration between the parties to publish new Arabic-language content by translating publications from various languages into Arabic.
Koth said, “We’re excited to embark on a cultural journey with the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center, celebrating language, hospitality, and unity. Through the Memorandum of Understanding, and our very own service promise, we’re committed to enriching experiences, creating lasting connections, and merging the art of hospitality with the richness of our culture.”