Today's Edition
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) honoured students participating in its Abu Dhabi Libraries competitions, celebrating their achievements in reading, creative writing and artistic expression during a ceremony held on Tuesday at the Cultural Foundation.
The ceremony honoured more than 100 winners across four competitions: Little Writer in the Big Book, Creative Reader, Anamel Mobdea’ and Library Pioneers, which aim to nurture young talent, promote reading and writing and strengthen Arabic language skills and Emirati national identity.
Fatima Al Shamimi, Library Management Director at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, highlighted the programmes' growth and their role in encouraging young people to engage with literature and culture.
She also praised the achievements of young writers and artists, noting the initiative's continued expansion and strong student participation.
According to DCT Abu Dhabi, the competitions have engaged more than 20,000 students since their launch in 2012, growing from just 50 participants in the first edition to more than 3,400 students in 2026.
The Little Writer in the Big Book competition encourages students to develop their storytelling skills by writing original stories that capture children's imaginations while reflecting cultural values and Emirati heritage.
The programme promotes Arabic as a vehicle for thought, culture and community values, while encouraging young writers to explore Emirati heritage, national identity and authentic local traditions.
Meanwhile, Creative Reader fosters a love of reading among Cycle 1 and Cycle 2 students through reading sessions in both Arabic and English. Anamel Mobdea’ encourages students to express stories through images, colours, rhythm and perspective, while Library Pioneerspromotes library visits and participation in educational programmes and digital services.
Al Shamimi stressed the importance of encouraging students to engage with books beyond the classroom and make greater use of public libraries.
"The competition is based on the number of books read and the number of students visiting public libraries in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra," she said.
She added that students taking part in the programme have opportunities to meet children's authors and discuss their interpretations of the stories they have read.
The initiative also recognises the role of educators, writers and public libraries in supporting students' literary development.
"We are grateful to educators and public libraries for their support of our students and for encouraging them to participate in these competitions," Al Shamimi said.
