Abu Dhabi brings Arabic storytelling to museums and farms

Abu Dhabi is taking Arabic storytelling beyond classrooms and libraries, turning museums and a farm into spaces where children can discover the joy of reading through stories, conversations and creative activities.

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), through its Kalima Reading Club, is organising five events under its ‘We Read for Children’ initiative from 7 October to 28 November 2026. The programme combines Arabic storytelling with hands-on workshops for children aged 6 to 12, encouraging them to explore books in engaging and unconventional settings.

Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, executive director of the ALC, said the initiative reflects the Centre’s commitment to human development, with early childhood playing a vital role in shaping a generation connected to its language and cultural heritage.

Drawing on selected titles from the Centre’s Esdarat programme and Kalima Project for Translation, the sessions encourage children to participate in discussions, express their ideas and use their imagination. The activities are designed to strengthen listening, communication and creative thinking skills while making reading an enjoyable experience.

Stories find a home beyond libraries

Two events were held at the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi on 7 and 10 October, bringing storytelling into a setting where children can explore the natural world alongside books.

The programme continues at Louvre Abu Dhabi on 31 October, featuring a reading session with author Dr Fatima Al Mazrouei. The museum will host the closing event on 28 November, while Gracia Farm is scheduled to welcome young readers on 15 November.

By taking stories into cultural and natural spaces, the initiative offers children and their families a different way to connect with literature. The approach also seeks to make reading a shared experience, linking books with discovery, curiosity and time spent together.

The programme aligns with the principles of the UAE’s Year of Family, highlighting the role families can play in nurturing reading habits and strengthening children's connection with their language and culture.

Building a lasting connection with Arabic

Al Tunaiji described the initiative as a long-term investment in human capital, beginning with children and helping them develop the knowledge, confidence and imagination needed for the future.

The broader ambition, he said, is to protect cultural identity, promote the Arabic language and encourage young people to channel their imagination into creative pursuits.

He added that the initiative had evolved into a strategic platform for shaping the future and ensuring Arabic remains relevant to today's children, who will become tomorrow's leaders.

The programme also reinforces Abu Dhabi's ambition to strengthen its position as a centre for culture, learning and intellectual exchange.

Part of a wider reading campaign

The five events form part of the Community Campaign to Support Sustainable Reading, through which the ALC seeks to expand access to knowledge and encourage a lasting reading culture across society.

The campaign reflects the Centre's wider efforts to strengthen national and cultural identity, promote Arabic and ensure that reading reaches people from different backgrounds and age groups.

By bringing books into places where children can learn, explore and create, the initiative aims to make Arabic reading a natural part of their lives, nurturing both a love of literature and a lasting connection with their cultural heritage.