Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Announces UAE Reading Month Activities

Dubai, UAE - March 4, 2023:  As a part of its efforts and strategy to ignite passion of knowledge and creativity, and in line with the UAE Reading Month in March, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library organises a series of activities. Held under the theme ‘UAE reads, a world reads,’ the activities will include events, workshops, discussion panels, and book signing events.

The activities will kick off with an advanced training workshop to teach participants character building techniques in novels and stories. A key element of storytelling, the workshop will focus on the idea of the novel; main, secondary, and side characters; character properties and guide; and the importance of creativity and editing, in addition to a writing exercise by the end of the workshop.
The Library's activities continue with a discussion panel with Libyan writer, Ibrahim Al-Koni and H.E. Mohammed Al Murr, Chairman of the MBRL Foundation. Moderated by Brewin Habib, the discussion will cover Al-Koni's experience in his novels, and will be open to writers and interested attendees. 
As part of the UAE Reading Month activities, MBRL will host Emirati novelists and short story writers to discuss their first or second literary productions. The event will include a reading session to recognize their efforts and further encourage them to continue their journey, followed by a miniature exhibition of the participants works.

The Library also offers a workshop directed at writers interested in publishing their first books, with trainer Turki Al Zaabi. The workshop will focus on necessary tools for the writers, first steps, writers’ cultural benchmark, and exercises to implement these steps.
In its focus on poetry, MBRL offers an Arabic and Spanish poetry event, with Spanish poet, (name) and Emirati poet, Ali Al Shaali, in collaborative effort between the Library, Hudhud Publishing and Distribution, and in cooperation with the Embassy of Spain. 
The activities’ agenda also include an introductory session on Al Malid traditions by Emirati writer Thani Al Muhairi, held under the theme ‘Al Malid: a traditional heritage,’ which is also the title of his book. The session will be followed by Al Malid art performance.
In the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan, MBRL will also offer family activities to bring back the storyteller tradition, with Abdul Nasser Al Tamimi, as well as sessions of Emirati traditional fairy tales on the traditions of Ramadan, with sessions specific for adults and children. The activities will also include story telling in English.

Moreover, the Library will organise several activities during Ramadan, including ‘Visitor Talents,’ a poetry reading evening with talented Emirati and Arab writers. 
Throughout March, the Children’s Library will offer a new event every Friday. The activities will include ‘My favourite game’ in the first week, ‘My behaviour in the Library’ in the second week, ‘Design and make your own bookmark’ in the third week, ‘Tell us about your favourite book’ in the fourth week, and ‘Words and pictures’ in the fifth week.