Sheikha Latifa inaugurates second edition of ‘Reading for Pleasure’ conference

Dubai: Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), inaugurated the ‘Reading for Pleasure’ conference, organised for the second time in the region by the Emirates Literature Foundation.

The conference, being held under the theme ‘Beyond the Classroom,' at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences from May 9 to 11, features case studies and panel discussions on STEM, diversity and inclusion, artificial intelligence and the preservation of culture and language for future generations.

The event has brought together experts from China, Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Syria, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the US and the UAE, enabling over 1,000 parents, teachers, librarians, and educators to hear from and network with more than 50 local and international experts, across almost as many sessions.

Sheikha Latifa commended the initiative as a meaningful step towards fostering a culture of learning and curiosity among young people. She noted that the ‘Reading for Pleasure’ initiative reflects a shared responsibility to nurture a lifelong love for reading that extends beyond academic achievement in children.

“By instilling a love of reading from an early age, we are nurturing generations of lifelong learners, individuals who are curious, informed, and inspired to shape the future with confidence and creativity,” she said.

“This initiative reflects the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, whose strong belief in the transformative power of education continues to shape the UAE’s cultural and intellectual landscape. By celebrating reading as a source of personal enrichment and intellectual empowerment, we are laying the foundation for a new generation of thinkers, creators, and leaders equipped to build a more vibrant and informed future,” she further said.

Ahead of the official opening, Sheikha Latifa met with several local and international speakers participating in the conference, exchanging insights and expressing her appreciation for their dedication to advancing literacy and educational development.

Present on the occasion were Zaki Nusseibeh, Chancellor - UAE University, Aisha Miran, Director General, Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dr. Fuzan Al Khalidi, Director of Programs and Initiatives at MBRGI, Daniel Van Otterdijk, Chief Communications Officer of Group Communications at DP World, Isobel Abulhoul OBE, Founder, Advisor and Member of the Board of Trustees of the Emirates Literature Foundation and Boutros Boutros, Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications, Marketing and Brand for Emirates.

Key sessions at the conference included Why Diversity Matters in Children’s Literature with award-winning author, Paralympian, and disability advocate Jessica Smith; Read with Robots with researchers from MIT; Family Literacy in Greater China with lawyer, columnist, and board governor of the Feng Zikai Chinese Children’s Book Award Annie Ho Ting; Reading for STEM with presenter, educator and award-winning science writer Isabel Thomas; Emirati Fathers’ Insights – The Joy of Reading with Dr. Anna Dillon and Kay Gallagher from Emirates College for Advanced Education; and Is Arabic Language Keeping Pace with AI? with Director of Medical Library, Sultan Qabous University Dr Abdullah Al Hinaai and Lecturer in Arabic Language, Abdullah Al-Salem University Safeyah Alzayed.

International speakers included Anna Boni, former World Bank education specialist; Dr Ibrahim Alhussein, Consultant at the UNESCO Regional Center for Quality and Excellence in Education; Dr Sabine Little, Director of Education at the University of Sheffield; Kathleen Rastle, cognitive psychologist; Michael Asher, historian and award-winning desert explorer; and Teresa Cremin, Professor of Education at The Open University.

Distinguished speakers from the UAE included Aisha Miran, Zaki Nusseibeh, and Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, Emirati columnist and founder of Barjeel Art Foundation.