Abu Dhabi, UAE – As part of its activities for the Reading Month initiative, the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has expanded the scope of the first phase of its ‘Reading in Public’ initiative, which was launched at the beginning of the year, to include coffee shops around the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, in a bid to strengthen the culture of reading among all segments of the community.

The ALC signed a cooperation agreement with Cartel Coffee Roasters to showcase its publications in branches of the café across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This deal is part of a series of agreements the Centre plans to conclude with coffee shops across the emirate to expand the reach of the initiative.

H.E. Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Executive Director of Abu Dhabi Language Centre, said: “Applied experiments have demonstrated that making books available in social spaces draws more attention to them and presents reading as an alternative pastime, which, in turn, enhances the prevalence of reading, gradually turning it into a habit among youth. And this makes the ‘Reading in Public’ initiative all the more important, given its role in integrating books into social life, making them accessible to all lifestyles, spreading a culture of reading, and instilling it as a habit among all members of the community.”

“Our goal is to reach the younger generations in places that suit their lifestyles and their new social patterns,” H.E. added. “This is a great duty and responsibility, and with that in mind, we have relied on a set of specific selection criteria to identify dozens of modern cafés and branches across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi for the initiative. Moreover, targeted surveys have led to the conclusion that these coffee shops have become meeting places for young people, including university students and young professionals.”

“The first phase of the initiative includes signing agreements with 12 cafés in Abu Dhabi, starting with Cartel Coffee Roasters,” H.E. Al Tunaiji continued. “The project includes dozens of other cafés across the Emirate who will join the ‘Reading in Public’ initiative, which we seek to expand to include various parts of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi over the course of the year.”

The first stage of the ‘Reading in Public’ initiative targets eight locations, including hotels, hospitals, and cafés, among others. It aims to encourage the public to use their free time in waiting areas to read, and to promote reading in Arabic, in line with the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre’s objectives to enhance the presence of Arabic as a language of culture, science, and creativity.

The initiative provides publications and printed books from the ALC’s Kalima Project for Translation and the ‘Esdarat’ project across various fields. The process for selecting the displayed books includes studying their popularity and updating them every quarter to meet the requirements of the target audience and provide them with the latest releases that align with their aspirations and help develop their cultural and intellectual inventory.

About Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, established following a directive from the President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, as part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, works to support Arabic language development and modernisation through comprehensive strategies and frameworks, enrich the scientific, educational, cultural and creative contributions of the Arabic language, promote Arabic language proficiency and cultural understanding, and support Arab talents in the fields of writing, translation, publishing, scientific research, arts, content creation and organisation of book fairs. The Centre works to realise its foundational vision through dedicated programmes, human expertise, and meaningful partnerships with the world’s most prestigious technical, cultural, and academic institutions.

About the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi's culture, tourism and creative sectors, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi's wider global ambitions. By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate's position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate's potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies, and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

DCT Abu Dhabi's vision is defined by the emirate's people, heritage, and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi's status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives, and creative thought.