Queen Rania stresses importance of reading among Arab students

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Tuesday expressed her interest in the Arab Reading Challenge and support for efforts to increase awareness on the importance of reading among students in the Arab world.

The Queen made the remarks during a meeting with Najla Al Shamesi, director general of the Arab Reading Challenge, which was launched by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, according to a statement from her office.

The initiative is considered the largest Arab project aimed at encouraging students in the Arab world to read, with more than a million students committing to read 50 million extracurricular books every academic year.

During the meeting, Shamesi praised Queen Rania’s efforts and contribution to the fields of education and childhood, stressing that the Arab Reading Challenge will contribute to improving global rankings of Arab students in reading, the statement said.

She noted that the project targets students in the Arab world and the children of Arab communities across the world at all school levels. 

The project also seeks to develop students’ self-learning and thinking skills, as well as instil values of national pride and an Arab sense of belonging.