The Ministry of Culture concluded National Reading Month 2025 with the launch of the Reading Ambassadors Initiative, in collaboration with the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and the Federal Youth Authority.

The community-driven initiative aims to foster a culture of reading by identifying influential figures as mentors and literacy advocates. By empowering communities and encouraging all segments of society to embrace reading as a daily habit, the initiative seeks to make reading an integral part of everyday life.

Mubarak Al Nakhi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, reaffirmed the ministry’s steadfast commitment to promoting reading through the continuous development and implementation of innovative, sustainable initiatives. These efforts align with the UAE’s vision of establishing reading as a cornerstone of progress and sustainable development.He emphasized that through this initiative, the ministry aims to create inspiring community role models dedicated to fostering a culture of reading.

In collaboration with the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and the Federal Youth Authority, the ministry will provide comprehensive support to the Reading Ambassadors, showcasing their efforts and initiatives across various media platforms. 

Additionally, creative spaces within the ministry’s libraries and cultural centres will be made available to them, enabling them to implement their initiatives and share their experiences to further promote reading culture. The initiative will also feature an annual forum to celebrate and advance these efforts.

The inaugural edition of the initiative features distinguished figures in the Writers and Pioneers category, including Sheikha Dr. Shamma bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Cultural and Educational Institutions, Dr. Sultan Al Ameemi, writer, poet, Executive Director of the Poetry and Heritage Department at the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Writers Union.

The influential figures also include Asma Seddiq Al Mutawaa, Founder and Chair of Al Multaqa Literary Salon, Dr. Aisha Belkhair, Research Advisor at the National Library and Archives, Fahad Al Memari, writer, researcher, and Chairman of the Board of the Emirates Library and Information Association, Maitha Al Khayat, an internationally acclaimed author, illustrator, and trainer in children’s and young adult literature, and Mohammed Al Hebsi, writer, novelist, Director of the Literature Department at the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.

The Volunteer category includes Hashem Al Wali, a trainer, writer, and social content creator, and Fatima Al Hammadi, a certified trainer and head of the volunteer team Al Dhafra Testahel.

In the Youth category, the initiative features Shareena Al Suwaidi, member of the Abu Dhabi Youth Council; Hazza Al Shehhi, member of the Ras Al Khaimah Youth Council; Ahmed Matar, member of the Dubai Youth Council; Yaqoub Al Baloushi, member of the Sharjah Youth Council; Mohammed Ali Al Ali, member of the Umm Al Quwain Youth Council; Nasser Khalid Al Harmoudi, member of the Ajman Youth Council; and Mohammed Abdulla Al Abdouli, member of the Fujairah Youth Council. 

The Youth category also includes Amna Al Mansouri, a school student and the UAE Arab Reading Challenge champion of 2023, and Ahmed Faisal Ali, the UAE Arab Reading Challenge champion of 2024.

The Children’s category includes several members of the Emirati Children’s Parliament, among them Shaikha Rowdah bint Nehayan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Nahyan bin Diab bin Saif Al Nahyan, Shaikha Shamsa bint Faisal Al Mualla, Khaled bin Hussain Al Hammadi, Salem bin Mohammed Binham Al Ameri, Nouf Yasser Mohammed, Matra Ibrahim, and Fatima Al Kaabi.

 Sheikha Dr. Shamma bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan expressed her delight in being part of the initiative and reflected on how her early love of reading was inspired by her late father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan. She highlighted the profound impact of critical and interactive reading on creativity and thought development, emphasising the importance of fostering reading as a natural and integral part of society. She also praised the efforts of the Ministry of Culture in advancing the wise leadership’s vision by strengthening the cultural and intellectual foundations of future generations.

Dr. Sultan Al Ameemi, a writer and poet, emphasised that reading is no longer merely a recreational activity or hobby but a key fundamental pillar in shaping knowledgeable individuals who appreciate the value of science and culture, particularly in an era of rapid change and expanding knowledge.