UAE Residents Average Six Books Annually as Digital Reading Rises

Apr 27, 2026

79 min

Apr 27, 2026 10:32

Each UAE resident reads six books a year as digital formats gain popularity: Survey

## UAE Reading Habits

The UAE National Reading Index 2025 reveals that residents read an average of six printed books each year. Conducted by the Ministry of Culture with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, the survey included over 3,300 participants from various demographics.

## Shift to Digital Formats

While printed book reading has slightly decreased from seven books in 2023, digital and audio formats are on the rise, with an average of nine books consumed annually through these channels. Over half of the respondents, 54%, read daily, and many have home libraries or dedicated reading spaces.

## Family Influence and Reading Time

Family encouragement plays a significant role in fostering reading habits, with 84.3% of respondents motivated by family members. On average, individuals spend six hours per week reading, though participation in reading clubs remains low at 9.6%.

## Challenges and Social Media Influence

Time constraints are the main barrier to reading more, affecting 75.7% of respondents. Social media is a major source for accessing reading material, used by 89.9% of participants. Online book purchasing has slightly declined to 44.9%.

## Language Preferences and Local Literature

English is the preferred language for 48.7% of readers, followed by Arabic at 27.2%. Interest in Emirati literature is strong, with 91.9% of writers favoring local works, reflecting the country's culture and society.

## Cultural Initiatives

Cultural initiatives are encouraging more people to read, with 67.2% of respondents feeling motivated by these programs. The Ministry of Culture aims to use the index to guide future initiatives and enhance the reading culture in the UAE.

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