Dubai: Employees working at the Office of The Crown Prince of Dubai (CPD) will be entitled to read at work for a maximum of three hours a week, in response to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan declaring 2016 the year of reading.

The objective of the new initiative is to strengthen the capabilities of staff, Saif Bin Markhan Ketbi, Director General of CPD, said.

“This innovative initiative, which encourages staff to read, aims to deepen the culture of reading among all employees as it is the most successful means of development of intellectual and linguistic abilities of the individual that contributes in the march of excellence,” he said.

Ketbi said the initiative was launched because the office understands how difficult reading in the age of social media has become, where information is now received quickly and briefly.

“We recognise that this is an investment, not a waste of time as some might think,’ Ketbi added.

Abdullah Mohammad Al Habtoor, Director of Human Resources and Administration, said the move aims to promote the thought of leadership, stimulate creativity and increase knowledge.

Al Habtoor revealed that the giving three hours a week to implement the initiative at CPD was in line with the standards wherein an average person will read up to 30 pages per hour, which means that three hours a week is sufficient to complete reading one book every month while these hours are deducted from working time.

He added that the CPD was obliged to provide all facilities needed for employees to read, such as a healthy environment as well as appropriate incentives.

Shaikh Khalifa declared 2016 as the Year of Reading earlier this month to create a generation of book lovers and consolidate the country’s position as a global capital for knowledge and culture.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, instructed that a committee be set up to supervise the nationwide initiative. He also directed the Cabinet to develop a national framework to ensure the creation of a new generation of readers.

The committee will develop an integrated strategic plan and a comprehensive framework to promote reading and bring about social and behavioural change to foster a culture of reading.