Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Honorary President of the Emirates Publishers Association (EPA), has launched the “Read You’re in Sharjah” campaign, organized and implemented by Menassah Distribution Company.

The initiative aims to foster a culture of reading across society and solidify Sharjah’s reputation as the cultural capital of the Arab world.

Inspired by Sharjah’s renowned slogan, “Smile You Are in Sharjah,” the campaign exemplifies the emirate’s global status for books and knowledge and its rich legacy and steadfast support for culture, reading and literature that qualified to become the “World Book Capital” in 2019.

Sheikha Bodour underlined the campaign’s aim to foster a culture of reading as a daily lifestyle and habit, particularly among youth and adolescents. She emphasized the collective responsibility of all cultural institutions in Sharjah to inspire and engage the younger generation through ongoing tailored initiatives that resonate with their interests, nurturing their knowledge, expanding their cognitive abilities and fulfilling their passions.

She elucidated that the reading campaign aligns perfectly with Sharjah’s cultural aspirations and a global outreach through literature, and reflects the emirate’s commitment to supporting cultural creativity in the Arabic language.

Rashid Al Kous, General Manager of Menassah Distribution Company, said the campaign, launched under the patronage of Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, embodies Menassah’s commitment to instilling a love of reading in future generations and promoting Emirati publishers’ publications.

Al Kous added that the campaign aims to achieve the emirate’s cultural vision represented in building and nurturing a reading community that contributes to the comprehensive renaissance in the emirate.

He praised Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi’s pivotal role in cultivating and promoting a culture of reading in the local community, as well as her efforts to make books accessible and available to everyone.