AED 500 million endowment to support Arab Reading Challenge

In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sobha Realty has pledged AED 500 million for an endowment to support the Arab Reading Challenge.

The contribution will fund the world’s largest Arabic-language reading competition, which encourages millions of students across the Arab world to make reading a daily habit and celebrate the Arabic language as a key part of cultural identity.

The agreement was signed by Mohammad Al Gergawi, Secretary-General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), and PNC Menon, Founder and Chairman of Sobha Realty, during a ceremony crowning the 2025 Arab Reading Champion in Dubai.

Under the partnership, Sobha Realty will develop an endowment in Dubai, with proceeds dedicated to expanding reading and knowledge-based programmes, Arabic-language preservation and youth empowerment projects.

Since its launch in 2015, the Arab Reading Challenge has attracted more than 163 million students, over 927,000 Arab school entries and more than 877,000 reading supervisors, making it the largest literacy initiative in the Arab world.

The Challenge awards a total of AED 11 million annually, with AED 500,000 for the overall Arab Reading Champion, AED 1 million for the Best School, AED 300,000 for the Outstanding Supervisor, AED 200,000 for the People of Determination Champion, and AED 100,000 for the Community Champion.

In the presence of Mohammed bin Rashid, Sobha Realty pledges AED500 million for endowment dedicated to Arab Reading Challenge. Company signs an agreement with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives during event to honour the 2025 Arab Reading Champions. pic.twitter.com/FlNqAQWNEG

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 23, 2025