Road and Transport Authority (RTA) exposed that it had received 572 nominations for the inaugural edition of the Short Story Contest composed in both Arabic & English. Events of the short story, which were required to revolve around public transport experience, targeted a variety of age brackets. The Contest ran through the website of "Read More" effort (rtareadmore.ae).Winners will be announced this June.

Involvement in the Contest opened on April 26. This contest intends to support the initiative of the President of the UAE stating 2016 as a Year of Reading. It also indicates RTA's dedication to encourage different generations to participate in innovative writing, which will assist determine their talents in issues of no relevance to their jobs.

Ms. Moaza Al Marri, Director of Marketing & Corporate Interaction, Corporate Administrative Assistance Solutions Sector, RTA, spokened: "The first edition of the Short Storycontest comes from RTA's attention to encourage various age groups to reading & writing through 'Read More' initiative that echoes our dedication to RTA's social responsibility in this regard. With involvement now coming to a close, about 572 stories written in Arabic & English have actually been received. Stories are headlined: 'Life is a Journey' i.e. connecting the information of the story with a real-life experience of the participant with a public transport mode. The supreme aim of the contest is to raise the awareness of the increasing generation about the value of public transportation, and how it can be part of our life. Age targeted by the Contest include under 11, 12-14, 15-17, and 18 years. Outcomes would be revealed by the end of June, and a specialist judges' panel will choose the winner of each category in each language.

"Receiving 572 stories is a testament to the realization of the strategic goal of the Contest in luring talents, and increasing the awareness of the upcoming generations about reading, writing, following up, and direct exposure to RTA services; which in turn would support the UAE effort stating 2016 as a Year of Reading. Winning stories would be published & dispersed to book shops in city stations, and school libraries. They would likewise be provided at the Knowledge Chair, which was released in partnership with the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF), at Al Rashidiya and Abu Hail Bus Stations, Public Transport Building at Muhaisna, and Customer Service Centers at Al Barsha & Umm Al Romool. The leading 10 contributors would be rewarded with Certificates of Appreciations and gifts in a quote to charge them to pursue their innovative efforts and develop their skills for the next rounds of the Contest," she explained.

"RTA has internal initiatives in support of reading & writing such as My Story, Knowledge Cup, Library Friends, and Readers' Club. It would also chart out plans & techniques efficient in opening brand-new horizons inspiring workers in addition to community members to read more as reading will help them form their individual qualities," included Moaza.

Ms. Isobel Abulhoul, CEO and Member of Board of Trustees of the Emirates Literature Foundation orgasm Director of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literatures, the Judging Panel of the Contest, applauded the Short Story contest, considering it a brilliant addition from RTA, and an extraordinary effort to influence different community segments to read & write. She admired the role of the contest in enhancing the intellectual professors of the participants besides delighting the winners who would see their works printed and published, which she referred to as quite indispensable.