Sheikh Mohammed to issue special message at book reading

The new collection of children’s stories ‘My Little World’ penned by the Dubai Ruler will be celebrated at an event at the ongoing Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.

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The event will feature readings from the collection in Arabic and English; a special message from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and a lucky draw, giving 15 lucky children their own box set.

The bilingual event, which is primarily intended for children aged 6-9 and their families, is open to the public and tickets are available free of charge from emirateslitfest.com.

It will take place at 4.30pm on February 5.

Launched by the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO), My Little World is a collection of five stories by Sheikh Mohammed, based on his childhood experiences. Blending absorbing storytelling with insightful observations on human relationships, learning and the natural world, Sheikh Mohammed recounts incidents and interactions in his early life that played a key role in shaping his outlook and character.

Nehal Badri, Director of Brand Dubai, the creative arm of GDMO, said: “Sheikh Mohammed’s collection of children’s stories reflects his keenness to engage with the younger generation and uplift, inspire and guide them with his remarkable life stories.

“The collection also highlights his vision to foster a culture of reading in the region, which continues to motivate youth across the Arab world and beyond to advance knowledge and learning. The event at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature will be a fitting tribute to the power of stories while the readings will serve to revitalise the oral storytelling traditions that have been an integral part of the region’s culture.”

Ahlam Bolooki, Director of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, said: “The themes of these stories will resonate with all children, and we have created an event that brings them to life. Vision, courage, dedication and hard work are values that we all want for the next generation, and we know there is no better way to inspire children than through stories. With such a special event, we expect exceptionally high demand for tickets so do book early.”

Isobel Abulhoul, CEO and Trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation, will do a reading of the stories in English while Ahlam Bolooki will do a reading of the stories in Arabic.

A fully stocked book shop will host both the box set and the individual books.

• Dubai
• Abu Dhabi