Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood Launches Sidra of Knowledge

The event brought together government officials and young participants to emphasize the role of reading as a foundational pillar for national identity and future development.

Launch of the Sidra of Knowledge Program

The newly unveiled Sidra of Knowledge program is designed to operate as a national platform for promoting Arabic literacy, enhancing national identity and culture, and uncovering the literary talents of children and young people. The initiative operates under the theme where reading begins and creativity flourishes.

According to the Council, the program is structured around three primary initiatives:

• Majlis Al Sidra: Focused on reading and dialogue sessions designed to refine children’s skills and cultivate a love for reading.
• Sidra Competitions: Literary and reading challenges intended to discover children’s passion for the Arabic language and develop their talents in reading and writing.
• Sidra Library: A resource providing literature tailored to children, as well as an initiative to adopt and publish literary and creative works authored by children and young people.

Reading as a National Priority

Saeed Al Ameri, Head of the Childhood Department at the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, highlighted the strategic importance of these initiatives during the ceremony. He stated that the program’s launch is part of the Council’s commitment to instilling a culture of reading in children and strengthening their national identity, based on the belief that reading represents the foundation of building a human being and that preparing a reading generation is a true investment in the future of the nation.

Al Ameri further noted that the choice of the Mohammed bin Rashid Library as the launch venue was intentional, underscoring the library’s status as a cultural edifice that embraces knowledge and reading. During the event, children in the Majlis Al Sidra sessions discussed the story Who is like you, my mother? (من يشبهك يا أمي) from the My Little World series by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Older youth participants analyzed the book Life Taught Me, which provides a summary of His Highness’s experiences in leadership, life, and shaping the future.

Voices of the Young Participants

For the young winners of the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, the event provided a platform to share their experiences with competitive reading.

Alia Khamis Al Kindi confirmed that her victory followed her reading of numerous stories, summarizing them, and passing interviews. Aisha Ahmed Al Shamsi noted that while the competition was not easy, it served as a motivator for her to continue reading and achieve her ambition of being a successful Emirati girl who raises the nation’s name in various forums. Additionally, Essa Abdullah Al Mazmi, a winner in the Arab Reading Challenge who achieved fifth place at the national level, explained that such initiatives encourage children to hold onto the Arabic language and engage with reading. He reported having read more than 150 books, noting that participating in the Council’s challenges added many books and inspiring experiences to his store of knowledge.

As the Sidra of Knowledge program moves forward, Al Ameri stated that the Council aims to transform reading into a lifestyle for children by providing a literary environment that brings them together with writers and readers, develops literary taste and the culture of dialogue, and allows them to express their creative talents. The ultimate goal is to graduate ambassadors of knowledge who write, create, and contribute to building a brighter future.