"Culture" Reveal the most important results "UAE National Reading Index 2025"

4 weeks ago

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Abu Dhabi, April 27 / WAM / The Ministry of Culture revealed the results of the Emirates National Reading Index for the year 2025, which measures the reality of reading practice among members of the UAE community once every two years, within the framework of the state’s keenness to make reading a way of life in Emirati society, and to contribute to strengthening development policies and plans in the fields of reading and knowledge.

The target sample for the index included 3,367 citizens and residents from all the emirates of the country, in addition to a sample of writers, students, teachers and parents, whose reading habits and inclinations were tracked by knowing their preferences for reading patterns and methods, whether traditional or innovative, in cooperation with the Federal Center for Competitiveness and Statistics.

His Excellency Mubarak Al-Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, said that the results of 2025 reflect the continued development of the national reading scene, and confirm the impact of cultural and digital initiatives in supporting reading behavior and enhancing the presence of books in the lives of individuals, in line with the state’s vision of building a reading society that possesses the tools of the future.

He added that this indicator represents a strategic tool to support decision-makers and direct cultural policies towards more impactful and sustainable initiatives. The Ministry will continue to work on developing initiatives and programs targeting various segments of society, which contribute to enhancing reading skills, expanding the base of cultural participation, and supporting creative industries.

The average number of paper books read annually was about six books, according to the results of 2025 in reading patterns, compared to an average of seven books in 2023. In an indicator that reflects a shift in reading behavior towards digital and audio content, the results recorded an average of nine books annually.

The results showed that 54% of community members allocate daily time to reading, while 40.7% own home libraries, and 43.3% have designated reading corners in their homes, which reflects the stability of reading practices and the strengthening of its presence in the family environment.

The results indicated that 84.3% of community members received encouragement to read since childhood from parents or a family member, which reflects the pivotal role of the family in consolidating reading habits.

The average number of weekly reading hours was about six hours, an indication of the presence of reading within individuals’ weekly routine.

On the other hand, membership in reading clubs is still limited, as the percentage of members does not exceed 9.6% of community members, which indicates existing opportunities to promote interactive and community reading.

“Lack of time” represents the most prominent challenge, as 75.7% of participants indicated that it limits their reading practice. The results also reveal other qualitative challenges, including the predominance of speed reading patterns associated with digital content, compared to a relative decline in in-depth reading.

The results also showed that only 32.1% of community members regularly write down the results of their reading, which reflects the limitation of converting reading into accumulated and organized knowledge.

The results revealed the continued strong presence of digital platforms, with 89.9% of community members indicating their preference for reading via social media sites, compared to 90.4% in 2023, which confirms the stability of this pattern as one of the most prominent channels for accessing cognitive content.

Regarding the sources of obtaining reading materials, the results of 2025 showed continued reliance on electronic purchasing at a rate of 44.9%, compared to 53.4% in 2023, with a diversification in other channels, reflecting the development of the knowledge access system.

Also, 67.2% of community members indicated that cultural and cognitive initiatives and projects contribute to stimulating reading, while the percentage of those wishing to read more reached 85.5%, which reflects growing societal awareness of the importance of reading.

The results of 2025 showed a linguistic diversity in reading patterns, as the percentage of preference for English reached 48.7%, compared to 51% in 2023, while the percentage of reading in Arabic permanently reached about 27.2%, compared to 24.6% in 2023, in addition to the continued use of other languages in varying proportions.

In terms of Emirati literature, the results of 2025 showed that 91.9% of writers prefer to read Emirati literature, compared to 93.3% in 2023, while the percentage of those who believe that it reflects the cultural and societal scene increased to 75% in 2025, compared to 60% in 2023.

His Excellency the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture confirmed that 72.1% of writers said that the copyright and publishing movement contributes to introducing literary production, compared to 64.7% in 2023, while literary awards and competitions continued to play a prominent role, as 86% of writers indicated their importance in highlighting creative production.

The “Emirates National Reading Index 2025” reflects the progress achieved in developing the reading scene, and confirms the success of national efforts in promoting the culture of reading, and achieving integration between traditional and digital media, in a way that supports the cultural development process in the country.