Dubai’s 9th Reading Box Explores Beauty of Storytelling

The event aims to expand the intellectual horizons of children and adults, encouraging them to read and explore the world of books. WAM
The event aims to expand the intellectual horizons of children and adults, encouraging them to read and explore the world of books. WAM
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Dubai’s 9th Reading Box Explores Beauty of Storytelling

The event aims to expand the intellectual horizons of children and adults, encouraging them to read and explore the world of books. WAM
The event aims to expand the intellectual horizons of children and adults, encouraging them to read and explore the world of books. WAM

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has revealed the details of the ninth Reading Box, which will be held from October 9 to 18 at City Centre Mirdif. The event aims to expand the intellectual horizons of children and adults, encouraging them to read and explore the world of books, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported Saturday.

This is part of Dubai Culture's commitment to supporting the National Literacy Strategy 2016–2026, which aims to embed cultural values within society and make reading a daily habit, it said.

The initiative, which falls under the umbrella of the School of Life initiative, features 55 inspiring sessions, poetry evenings and creative workshops. These activities will offer visitors the opportunity to enrich their knowledge, develop skills in storytelling, literary writing, and Arabic calligraphy, and engage in conversations with a select group of writers, intellectuals, poets, and heritage experts from the UAE and abroad.

Eiman Al Hammadi, Manager of Libraries Affairs Section at Dubai Culture, affirmed the importance of the initiative and its role in creating new avenues for knowledge enhancement among the community.

“Reading Box is an innovative and vital platform that spreads the culture of reading, encouraging individuals to access various knowledge sources, and enabling them to develop leadership and creative thinking skills through a rich program of sessions that highlight the vibrancy of Dubai's literary scene and its significant cultural momentum,” said Al Hammadi.



200 Teams from 17 Nations Seek Innovative Solutions for Arabic Language in Saudi Arabia

The ALLaM Challenge aims to develop AI models capable of writing and understanding Arabic poetry, accurately analyzing grammar, and teaching Arabic to children in an engaging manner. SPA
The ALLaM Challenge aims to develop AI models capable of writing and understanding Arabic poetry, accurately analyzing grammar, and teaching Arabic to children in an engaging manner. SPA
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200 Teams from 17 Nations Seek Innovative Solutions for Arabic Language in Saudi Arabia

The ALLaM Challenge aims to develop AI models capable of writing and understanding Arabic poetry, accurately analyzing grammar, and teaching Arabic to children in an engaging manner. SPA
The ALLaM Challenge aims to develop AI models capable of writing and understanding Arabic poetry, accurately analyzing grammar, and teaching Arabic to children in an engaging manner. SPA

The competition in the ALLaM Challenge has intensified for the second consecutive day, with 200 teams from 17 countries, including Saudi Arabia, showcasing their capabilities in developing innovative solutions, the Saudi Press Agency reported Friday.

The focus is on enhancing large language models (LLMs) and transforming them into real-world AI projects that serve the Arabic language across various sectors.

Overseeing this significant competition, organized by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) in collaboration with the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones, are more than 50 mentors and 40 judges—experts in AI and the Arabic language. They are providing support to participating teams and evaluating projects based on criteria that ensure the sustainability of the proposed solutions.

The ALLaM Challenge aims to develop AI models capable of writing and understanding Arabic poetry, accurately analyzing grammar, and teaching Arabic to children in an engaging manner. This aligns with the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to support the Arabic language, especially in technological fields, by providing high-quality Arabic data and creating AI models that can effectively handle the language.

This international competition is supported by a technical partnership with IBM and the National Technology Development Program (NTDP), with a total prize pool of SAR 1 million.