Dubai Customs was delighted to host three eminent Emirati writers to spotlight their works as examples of Emirati literature. The event “A Book in My Life”, which was held in collaboration with the Emirates Writers Union, featured Saeed Al Tuniji, Khalid Al Bidour, and Dr Salem Al Falasi. Many DC employees came to see the three authors talk about their journeys in life and how they became affectionate readers and writers.
During a feature panel session, they spoke at length about the significance of reading and how it feeds the mind. They reflected on the initiatives launched in the UAE to encourage everyone, especially the young generation, to discover the pleasure of reading, such as declaring 2016 as the Year of Reading, upon the directives of President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Arab Reading Challenge, announced by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which is inspiring one million children to read 50 books each outside the school curriculum in one year.
Moderating the session was the Director of Corporate Communication Department at Dubai Customs Khalil Saqer bin Gharib, who said that organising “A Book in My Life” event was for Dubai Customs to join the world in celebrating the World Book and Copyright Day. This remarkable day, he noted, is aimed at paying a world-wide tribute to books and authors while according renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity.
An elegy for the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was recited by Khalid Al Bidour.
Following the session, a book-signing event took place, where the authors signed copies of their books for the audience.