Sharjah Economic Development Department “SEDD” participates in the initiative of the reading month of March, which comes under the slogan “UAE Reads” with the aim of disseminating and enhancing knowledge, motivating employees to read, and adopting a culture of research and reading, which comes within its strategy to adopt the country’s cultural and knowledge initiatives.

Thus, SEDD stressed its concerns to spread culture in the field of knowledge management, knowledge management strategy, mechanism for inventorying tacit and explicit knowledge, and identifying knowledge needs and mechanisms used to reduce the knowledge gap. This is done through SEDD’s electronic forum, and within its knowledge portal, with the aim of enriching employees’ knowledge, and disseminating and consolidating its concepts among them.

Furthermore, SEDD indicated that Reading Month is a priority in Sharjah’s annual economic agenda, based on the importance of spreading culture and knowledge to improve society through initiatives that encourage reading and support awareness of the principles and standards of science and learning. It is also considered a valuable opportunity for government departments and institutions to encourage their employees to adopt high intellectual habits that work to increase individuals’ awareness, advance their culture, and enhance spreading knowledge in the society.

The “Month of Reading” initiatives included holding a dialogue session entitled “Role of Reading in Achieving Sustainability” with HE Salha Obaid Ghabish, Head of the Cultural and Media Office at Supreme Council for Family Affairs. In addition, a meeting was organized with Fatima Abdul Rahim Al Zarouni from “RUWAD” Foundation, who is the author of the book “Critical Success Factors for SMEs in UAE”. By the end of the event, cultural competitions were organized for employees to increase their knowledge.

Moreover, SEDD pointed out that holding such events fall within its strategy to enhancing the reading skills of its employees. Such thing would enhance positive participation in the cultural process in UAE, and would support the provision of opportunity for creative and talented people in the cultural fields to spread their creativity and knowledge.