The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced a new law to get people to read more. The law includes a large number measures to support the government's wish a higher literacy rate. Government employees will have paid time during working hours to read books. The law encourages private companies to create libraries their offices, factories and other workplaces. It will also encourage shopping centres to offer spaces to set public libraries so people can read when they go shopping. These libraries will be easy to use people reading disabilities. Even coffee shops shopping malls will have to offer books and other reading materials to their customers.
The UAE’s National Reading Law was issued President Sheikh Khalifa. In May this year, he launched the National Strategy for Reading, which has a 10-year goal to create a nation "avid readers". It aims to make reading a lifelong habit 50 per cent the nation's adults and 80 per cent school students. It also aims to get students to read an average of least 20 books a year. Hussain Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, said the new law is: "A road map building a reading, civilised society capable change, and a world leader development." Dr Tod Laursen, President of Khalifa University, said that the age of the Internet, it was still important books and libraries to have their place society.
