+ Summary
This summary was generated by artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team at Voice Of Emirates.
- The Emirate of Dubai participated in the UNESCO conference on the occasion of International Literacy Day 2025.
- The Arab Reading Challenge initiative has helped promote digital learning and attracted more than 32.2 million students.
- Partnership with UNESCO enhances the status of the Arabic language and supports self-learning skills.
- The challenge of digital illiteracy affects 739 million people, and the gap in internet access is clear between high- and low-income countries.
- The foundation aims to integrate the Arab Reading Challenge into education and apply technology to support distance learning.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) participated in the international conference organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris on the occasion of the International Literacy Day 2025, held under the theme “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Age.”
The conference featured sessions and interactive discussions on digital challenges, ways to strengthen lifelong learning systems, and strategies to enhance literacy and digital skills.
Pioneering Initiatives in Knowledge Dissemination
Dr. Fawzan Al Khalidi, Director of Programs and Initiatives at MBRGI, affirmed that the Arab Reading Challenge – launched in 2015 under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai – has successfully kept pace with rapid digital transformations and new knowledge-acquisition methods. The initiative has provided innovative platforms such as the Digital Library of the Challenge targeting remote regions, while attracting millions of new participants each year.
In its ninth edition, the challenge registered the participation of more than 32.2 million students from 50 countries, bringing the total number of participants since its inception to over 163 million students, marking a growth of more than 795% compared to the first edition. More than 927,000 schools and around 877,000 reading supervisors have taken part across the nine editions.
Strategic Partnerships
Al Khalidi emphasized that the partnership between MBRGI and UNESCO reflects their shared commitment to promoting a culture of reading, building self-learning skills, and enhancing the status of the Arabic language as a pillar of knowledge and identity. He also noted the support of the Arab League, which has urged Arab countries to adopt the challenge as an educational component in national curricula.
Global Literacy Challenges
According to UNESCO data, around 739 million young people and adults worldwide still lack basic literacy skills. While 93% of populations in high-income countries use the Internet, only 27% of populations in low-income countries have access. Globally, less than half of primary schools are connected to the Internet for educational purposes, and two-thirds of schools in Sub-Saharan Africa lack electricity.
A Forward-Looking Vision
MBRGI seeks to integrate the Arab Reading Challenge into educational systems across the Arab region, while launching complementary initiatives aimed at adult literacy and leveraging digital platforms and modern technologies to support remote learning. These efforts align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4 on “Quality Education for All.”
