(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Dubai visitors may not only enjoy the tourist attractions and Guinness Record winning treats here, but can also go home with as many books as they wish, all for free.
Dubai Customs, the oldest government department in the emirate, on Wednesday invited Khaleej Times to an exclusive launch of an all new reading initiative at all terminals of the Dubai International Airports.
As per the 'Book for every passenger' drive, being carried out in collaboration with the Passenger Operations Department, thousands of books in Arabic and English will be gifted to each and every passenger upon arrival to Dubai.
Dr Shaikha Al Ghafiri, acting director of the training centre, Dubai Customs, told Khaleej Times that the drive will be implemented in phases over a year. "Dubai Customs not only collect revenues, but also takes care of culture."
The initiative, the first of its kind in the GCC states, is meant to boost the knowledge economy, she added. "Dubai Customs has a big library of 17,000 books on different issues, and our employees were gifted free books early this year."
Shaikha Masood, the Dubai Customs executive behind the initiative, said they are targeting all nationalities, men and women, old and young, residents, and visitors. "It is our duty to develop a cultural environment and promote reading as an inevitable platform for development and progress."
Ibrahim Al Kamali, director of passenger operations department, said up to 3,000 books will be distributed to passengers for free in the first stage of the promising initiative. "The valuable books, initially gifted from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, cover a variety of issues, including economy, tourism, management, literature, education, law, and customs."
Khalid Ahmed, senior manager of terminal-1, said the drive, in support to the UAE leaders' reading initiative, reflects Dubai's keenness to promote knowledge everywhere.
"Dubai is not only a business or tourist hub, it is also a spring of knowledge which can only be attained through reading, and the book shall always remain a valuable asset at all times."
Adel Jassim, inspection manager, Terminal 1, said all passengers on the 54 flights arriving at Terminal 1 on Wednesday were gifted free interesting books. "So far, up to 1,000 passengers have arrived, and they were offered the books."
A 20-year-old Sudanese student of engineering said he cannot live without reading. "I am committed to reading a book every day, even if small. A book is my best friend."
Al Ameer Mohammed, a Sudanese businessman, said the drive is timely particularly as less people read. "I encourage my three kids to read, and always reward them for that."
Ahmed Shaaban Originally from Egypt, I have been in Dubai since December 2005. Before coming here, I worked as an English language instructor, chief En/Ar translator, proofreader, reporter in Egypt and Qatar. I have also worked as a reporter, correspondent and simultaneous translator with two satellite channels in Dubai. I have a masters degree in media, Cairo University, 2014, a bachelor degree in English language and translation, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 1996, and three post-graduate diplomas in English language and Instruction. With over 19 years of experience in translation, interpretation, EFL instruction, and reporting. I am interested in technology, aviation, politics, as well as community, parliament and defence issues. I enjoy reading, writing, exercising, and surfing the web. Share More > Vote var UNIQUE_ARTICLE_ID = "38F298F1-391C-4D27-BDC4-900502BE1AFB"; var SECTION_TAGS = "tag1, tag2, tag3"; var ARTICLE_TITLE = "Visit%20Dubai%2C%20receive%20as%20many%20books%20as%20you%20wish%2C%20for%20free%0D%0A"; var GA_CODE = "UA-819330-1"; var VUUKLE_API_KEY = "841fb3e5-977f-4e2e-be39-fae608323cc5"; var TRANSLITERATE_LANGUAGE_CODE = "en"; var VUUKLE_COL_CODE = "646464"; var VUUKLE_COMMENT_COUNT = 1; VUUKLE_EMOTE_SIZE = "40px"; VUUKLE_EMOTE_IFRAME = "120px"; var VUUKLE_STORIES_TIME = 0; var ARTICLE_AUTHORS = btoa(encodeURI( '[{"name": "name one", "email":"","type": "internal"}, {"name":"name two", "email":"","type": "external"}]')); create_vuukle_platform(VUUKLE_API_KEY, UNIQUE_ARTICLE_ID, "0", SECTION_TAGS, ARTICLE_TITLE, TRANSLITERATE_LANGUAGE_CODE , "1", "", GA_CODE, VUUKLE_COL_CODE, ARTICLE_AUTHORS);
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