His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE has issued the first law of its kind that aims to put legislations and executive programs, along with a well-defined governmental duties to cement the importance of reading in the UAE.

Sheikh Khalifa said that the law aims to invest in human being and boost the UAE’s image as an example for the region. He also said that reading and knowledge are key for the progress of the UAE.

“Our objective is to prepare generations that work for a brighter future of the UAE,” the President said.

Meanwhile, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum praised the newly passed law, and  hailed the law as an unprecedented cultural and legislative initiative.

“The law takes a key value like reading and turns it in an integrated government project,” His Highness said. Sheikh Mohammed also celebrated this announcement with the top students of the Arab Reading Challenge in his office in Emirates Towers.

Sheikh Mohammed said that the law was drafted based on international legal experiences, that took into consideration local heritage and the Arabic identity of the society.

He also stressed the importance of reading as a right for everyone in the society that is granted by law, where the government will provide a “knowledge briefcase” to families with newborn babies.

“Our objective is to make reading a daily habit in our people, where relevant entities will be required to translate this law into reality,” he said.

The law also will grant employees dedicated time to read during working hours, and consolidates the cultural image of books in the society and obliges coffee shops in shopping malls to offer reading material for its customers.