The third edition of "Letters and Words – Early Childhood Literacy Conference 2026" concludes today, Sunday, November 1, 2026, in Abu Dhabi, held at Qasr Al Watan's Irth Abu Dhabi venue, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, founder and executive chairperson of the Kalimat Group.
اضافة اعلان
Fifty speakers, including academics, researchers, and educators, are taking part in the third edition's activities. The program includes four keynote presentations, 14 panel discussions, 13 interactive workshops, and an intensive accredited professional course in "the science of reading."
The conference focuses on four main pillars: developing teachers' capabilities and teaching methods, strengthening the role of educational leaders and policymakers, empowering families and communities to support children's learning, and improving the quality of Arabic books and content directed at children, with emphasis on turning research findings into practical, applicable educational practices.
These pillars align with the objectives of the "Year of the Family" in the UAE, by emphasizing the family's role in developing children's language skills through shared reading, conversation, and daily activities, and strengthening integration between home and school in establishing the presence of the Arabic language from the earliest years.
The conference is organized by the Kalimat Group in strategic partnership with the National Academy for Childhood Development, under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and "Eva Hotels & Resorts," with educational partners the Sharjah Private Education Authority and the Zayed Center for Arabic Language Research at Zayed University.
Bodour Al Qasimi: Empowering children in their mother tongue is essential to our cultural security
In her speech at the conference, Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi said that empowering children in their mother tongue has become an essential part of our cultural security and national future, stressing the importance of integrating the roles of family, teachers, and educational institutions in strengthening the child's relationship with Arabic from their earliest years.
She added: "Our success is not measured solely by how well a child knows letters and words, but by the relationship we build between them and their language," noting that this relationship gives them a solid foundation for understanding their identity, and the confidence to engage with the world without losing their connection to their language and culture.
The conference included a panel discussion titled "The role of the United Arab Emirates in supporting the Arabic language in early childhood," in which Dr. Saeed Kharbash, executive director of policy, research, and programs at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, Maryam Al Hammadi, executive director of private education and partnership schools at the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, and Khawla Al Hosani, deputy director of the Sharjah Academy for Education, took part. The session was moderated by media figure Dr. Abdulsalam Al Hammadi.
Speakers stressed the importance of national policies and initiatives in supporting Arabic language education during early childhood, and translating visions and strategies into concrete educational practices in nurseries and kindergartens, pointing to the role of teacher preparation and developing learning environments rich in Arabic that encourage communication and expression.
They discussed the importance of integration between families and educational institutions, the challenges tied to the quality of language content and children's exposure to Arabic, as well as measuring the impact of initiatives on the growth of vocabulary, comprehension, oral expression, and reading readiness, and ways to strengthen cooperation between government and educational bodies to build a sustainable national system supporting Arabic learning.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi toured the interactive exhibition area, which offers insight into educational resources and modern technologies for developing reading and writing skills, and tried out digital tools and initiatives presented by partners and participating bodies.
She also visited the workshops corner, where she viewed the educational activities and experiences on offer, as well as the Education Resources Store, which contains a range of books, materials, and educational resources designed to support Arabic language learning in early childhood.
