Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, on Friday announced that the Arab Reading Challenge has reached more than 40 million children in 138,000 schools across 60 countries.
He confirmed that the challenge is going ahead as planned, and appeared to make a reference to the Iran war, referring to it as “the froth” which “passes away” while projects that benefit people “endure on Earth”.
“Our project in the Arab Reading Challenge continues, where the number of participants in its 10th edition has reached more than 40 million students in 138,000 schools across 60 countries around the world," he wrote on X.
“Our civilisational projects do not stop but rather stem from our belief in the importance of building educated, aware and empowered human beings equipped with the tools of the future."
Sheikh Mohammed added: “As for the froth, it passes away but that which benefits people endures on Earth.
"This project will benefit millions of students, and it will benefit people, and it will benefit the Earth, and we will remain supporters of it and believers in its civilisational importance.”
No details were given on when the Arab Reading Challenge winners will be announced, but it normally takes place in October.
That 40 million students are already involved is a significant milestone. In its ninth year, 32 million took part.
What is the Arab Reading Challenge?
Launched by Sheikh Mohammed in 2015, the competition is the world’s largest Arabic literacy initiative. Its mission is to encourage a love of reading, strengthen language skills and nurture young Arabs’ knowledge and character.
Organisers say it promotes cross-cultural understanding, tolerance and coexistence, and equips students with skills to build a better future while promoting Arabic as a vibrant, living language worldwide.
Twin sisters were crowned joint winners last year, and they pledged to give half of their shared Dh500,000 winnings to support people in Palestine.
