The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) announces its participation at the 31 st edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) to be held from May 23-29 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). The ADEK stand (#D0510, Hall 10) offers students a new perspective on reading, with innovative, interactive experiences that help students explore their passion for books. The stand offers four unique experiences, each representing a different book genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery, and Poetry. “Global studies show that children who read for 20 minutes a day are exposed to more than two million words a year and score 90 per cent or higher on standardized tests,” said His Excellency Amer Al Hammadi, Undersecretary of ADEK. “We continue our focus on instilling a culture of reading among our community in line with the objectives of UAE National Policy for Reading, especially considering its role in supporting children’s cognitive and social development.”

ADEK’s stand at ADIBF will also provide a variety of exciting challenges and
competitions that can only be solved through reading, as well as unique interactive
experiences that allow students in grades 7-10 (Year 8-11) to learn about book
genres that best suit their personalities. Additionally, parents visiting the pavilion can
learn about the stages of reading development for children, as well as their pivotal
role in encouraging their children to read.
“Developing a ‘reader personality’ begins at birth,” added Al Hammadi. “Children
whose parents read for them regularly show faster rates of language development
and can communicate better with the world around them. Moreover, reading to
children is an important opportunity to strengthen family bonds. In this context, we
previously launched A Parent’s Guide to Raising an Avid Reader, which provides
parents with many tips and tools to encourage their children to read and adopt
reading as a way of life.”
ADEK’s participation at ADIBF comes in line with its strategy to foster a culture of
reading among youth and build a generation of passionate readers. Throughout the
The month of Reading last March, ADEK organized the ‘Abu Dhabi Reads’ programme,
which included a series of pop-ups at key locations in Abu Dhabi and promoted a
reading culture among more than 30,000 visitors.