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Dubai's on a kick to get the country reading! Last year, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, announced an unprecedented law that allows workers in the UAE the right to read for a full hour during the work day. (Why am I not taking advantage of this?!) "Our objective is to make reading a daily habit in our people," Sheikh Khalifa said, when announcing the ruling.
Now, another initiative has been launched to get people reading-- and it's going to be at beaches around Dubai.
Earlier this week, Dubai Municipality announced Beach Libraries, which is exactly what it sounds like. "Dubai Municipality will provide 6 new beach libraries in major beach parks, in line with the leadership's directives in establishing reading a government and national priority and a basic need for development. It also enables beaches in Dubai with an educational and cultural perspective at the same time. 8 beach libraries have been launched so far in Al Mamzar Corniche, Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim."
Donations are welcome, so if you have books you're done with, you can drop them at any of the locations to share with fellow bookworms. The library is also lit at night, making sure you can keep the reading going no matter what time of day.
Way to go, Dubai, for making reading fun and accessible for everyone!