Dubai: Social media users in the UAE and across the GCC have welcomed the new ten-year national policy for reading, saying the policy will create a cultural move never seen before when launched at the end of the year.

The UAE, on Tuesday, announced at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), the ten-year National Policy for Reading backed by a Dh100 million fund to encourage the habit of reading among a range of age groups.

This will be the first law pertaining to reading in the region and will see Dh100 million in endowments go towards supporting reading initiatives and activities.

On Twitter, a hashtag on the topic began trending in Arabic following tweets by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announcing details of the policy.

Hundreds of Twitter users began retweeting and sharing their thoughts.

Twitter user @DDSaeed said, “This policy will definitely help create an educated society that is able to actively contribute to achieve UAE’s vision of the future.”

Sharing similar thoughts was user @KasratRahama who said, “Our leadership has drawn a successful future for us with successful plans that will contribute to spreading awareness and culture.”

Commenting on the outcome of policy and its benefits to communities, @alhosani_shaima said, “Nations are built as a result of reading, and civilisations couldn’t have existed without a book and without learning.”

Another user @Aljawhrhsaud said, “We are witnessing an intellectual renaissance, God Bless the leadership for their endeavours in making this country prosper and flourish.”

With the same hashtag @aljaaarih also expressed his opinion saying, “This policy reflects the awareness on the importance of developing minds and educating all community members.”

In a series of tweets, user @Hbb_6 wanted to share his ideas on the importance of reading, and from an Islamic perspective, he said: “Reading is one of the many important things humans must pay attention to, for it is the first word that descended to the Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) in Hira, when Angel Gabriel came down and told him “Read”.

He later tweeted: “The UAE is proving to the entire world its interest in erasing illiteracy through launching reading policy.”