The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has signed an agreement with Dubai-based Emaar Properties to support the ‘Promoting Culture’ initiative, which aims to enrich the reading community in the UAE and the Arab region as a whole.

The initiative aims to achieve this through financing the local translation and publishing industry and developing its printing and distribution mechanisms, reported Emirates news agency Wam.

The agreement was signed by Saood Al Hosani, acting executive director, Business Support Sector at DCT Abu Dhabi, and Ahmad Al Matrooshi, managing director of Emaar Properties, attended by Saeed Al Tunaiji, director of the Publishing Department at DCT Abu Dhabi, and Ibrahim Al Hashmi, executive director of Corporate Services at Emaar Properties.

Al Hosani said: “We are delighted to launch the ‘Promoting Culture’ initiative in partnership with Emaar Properties, a widely-recognised world-class developer. This launch gives great impetus to the idea of the initiative, which aims to explore new horizons in the fields of publishing and cultural development.

“Through this platform, we will enable the private sector and institutions from outside the cultural branch to play an active role in enriching the cultural scene. We are currently concluding similar agreements with other interested community institutions.”

Al Matrooshi said: “Our partnership with DCT Abu Dhabi reflects our commitment to supporting the cultural and creative scenes of the UAE. ‘Promoting Culture’ aims to encourage and enhance a passion for reading and knowledge among the various groups of society. The initiative also aligns with our focus on working with various cultural and educational institutions in the country to drive social development strategies at all levels.”

Abdulla Majed Al Ali, acting executive director of the National Library Sector at DCT Abu Dhabi, added that signing this agreement with Emaar contributes to expanding the chances for collaboration with the private sector, which in turn supports cultural growth in society.

"Our publication projects at the DCT Abu Dhabi have a good reputation in intellectual circles, especially the ‘Kalima’ translation project, which enables the transfer of the most important books from different languages to Arabic, making other cultures easily accessible to the Arab reader. We trust that the ‘Promoting Culture’ initiative will be the gateway through which partnerships are held to support the spread of knowledge to all," he added.

The agreement provides for the production and publication of titles, along with a cultural educational programme accompanying the publications. The programme will include book signings, talks and training courses. It also incorporates terms on providing media and online promotion services for the activities outlined, while offering exclusive benefits to employees of both parties, such as special discounts on the DCT Abu Dhabi publications and membership cards in all Dar Al Kutub libraries across the emirate.

Under the agreement, the parties will work together to launch initiatives serving the community, which align with the DCT Abu Dhabi’s strategy aimed at expanding the fields of research and education, diversifying the sources of partnerships, and enhancing communication and collaboration efforts with national institutions and entities.