UAE seeks to encourage children's passion for reading: Sheikha Bodour

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the Founder and CEO of Kalimat Group, has stressed the UAE’s commitment to nurturing and investing in children’s love of reading, because youth who are well-read are empowered to shape a brighter future.

Sheikha Bodour was speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kalimat Group, Majid Al Futtaim, represented by its UAE Shopping Malls Managing Director Fuad Mansoor Sharaf, and National Paints Group, represented by its Managing Director & Partner, Samer Salim Al Sayegh.

Together, they will launch a series of literary activations to promote reading in children and youth across popular family destinations in Sharjah and Dubai. The summer initiative designed to foster a love for reading and expand knowledge across age groups will be held in City Centre Al Zahia throughout July and City Centre Mirdif throughout August.

It will feature an array of inspiring, book-themed activities with a bookselling kiosk, reading sessions, book signings, educational workshops, and competitions.

  Sheikha Bodour with dignitaries at the event.

Commenting on the new partnership, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi said: ‘Kalimat Group champions immersive reading experiences that excite children and youth, celebrate diversity and empathy, and lead to a deeper understanding of the world. Sustained investment in children's knowledge is vital for fostering creativity and empathy, and we’re committed to investing in book culture, collaborating with like-minded partners, and building a vibrant, knowledge-based society.’

Fuad Mansoor Sharaf commented: “At Majid Al Futtaim, we are committed to supporting our community by providing a nurturing environment that fosters growth and innovation. We are proud to leverage our vibrant spaces and communities within City Centre Mirdif and City Centre Al Zahia to invest in children’s culture and knowledge by tapping into their passion for reading and help build creative generations. We believe that a deep love for and a consistent reading habit is critical for shaping future innovators and leaders and lays the foundation for well-rounded persons. This summer, our malls will actively support the initiative by offering dedicated spaces for kids’ workshops and selling children’s books, ensuring that the joy of reading is accessible to all.”

Samer Salim Al Sayegh said: “We are deeply honoured to collaborate with Kalimat Group and Majid Al Futtaim to make reading more fun and accessible to children and youth this summer. We believe this initiative not only aims to enrich young minds during the summer but also to cultivate lifelong readers and learners. Through the magic of books, we can open new worlds of imagination, countless adventure and wonder. This summer, let’s enrich the minds of the children and youth with the power of books, for within their pages lies knowledge, culture and intellectual values.”

Through its summer initiatives, Kalimat Group aims to enrich children's vacation time and position books as essential tools for the development of youth and children. This initiative is grounded in the belief that reading supports academic achievement and fosters intellectual, social, and cognitive growth. By leveraging its initiatives and partnerships, the group strives to cultivate a love for reading and promote a culture of knowledge across generations, contributing to the creation of a more informed society capable of meeting future challenges and advancing development.

About Kalimat Group

Kalimat was founded in 2007 as a children's book publishing house. Since then, it has evolved into Kalimat Group, serving as a parent company for four imprints. The first imprint, Horouf, was launched to promote early education in Arabic and enhance children's literacy. Rewayat followed, focusing on translated and original Arabic literary works for adults. Through a strategic partnership with the international Quarto Group, Kalimat Quatro was established to translate and distribute Quarto's publications in Arabic. In 2017, Comics was introduced to offer captivating illustrated storytelling in the Arabic language.