In a literary celebration that could light up libraries across the globe, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, honored a staggering 810,000 student power-readers who participated in the latest edition of the Arab Reading Challenge. With a heart full of pride and a nation brimming with knowledge, Sheikh Mohammed personally celebrated the phenomenal achievement of UAE students, putting a spotlight on the rising star of the hour—Reem Al Zarouni, the crowned national champion of the challenge.
In a world often consumed by screen time and social feeds, this challenge has been a revolutionary leap toward reviving the magic of books. And not just any books—Arabic literature, culture, and ideas flowing across generations and borders. The Arab Reading Challenge, under Sheikh Mohammed’s visionary leadership, has become more than a competition; it’s a cultural movement, a renaissance of language, and a platform for tomorrow’s thinkers, dreamers, and leaders.
Reem Al Zarouni, whose dedication, eloquence, and passion for Arabic books won her the top spot, embodies the future Sheikh Mohammed dreams of: sharp minds, strong roots, and global vision. Her achievement was met with thunderous applause and genuine admiration, with Sheikh Mohammed lauding her as a “national beacon of knowledge and ambition.”
But this is about more than individual glory. The participation of over 800,000 students is a testament to the UAE’s firm belief in education as the compass of progress. The initiative fosters deep Arabic literacy while preparing youth to compete and connect on the global stage, armed with both cultural pride and intellectual confidence.
Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed that reading is the seed of innovation and leadership—and through initiatives like the Arab Reading Challenge, the UAE is cultivating a garden of genius. As books continue to turn, and minds continue to grow, one thing is clear: the UAE isn’t just reading the future—it’s writing it, one brilliant student at a time.