Government employees in the United Arab Emirates will be given “dedicated time to read” during work hours, according to a new law passed this week by UAE president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, The Guardian reports.

In addition to allowing government staff to read books while they’re at work (the books must pertain to personal or professional development), the law will also see to it that a “knowledge briefcase,” or a bag of books, will go to every child in the UAE.

“Our objective is to make reading a daily habit in our people, where relevant entities will be required to translate this law into reality,” said UAE vice president Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum to the The Guardian.

“I do not want to dwell too long on mentioning the profusion of other libraries... in Alexandria, Cairo, Andalusia, and Morroco,” Sheikh Mohammed said. “But what I do want to say is that we have learned a clear lesson: there is no future without books; no enlightenment or tolerance or co-existence, without books; no creativity or innovation or invention without books; no economic prosperity or pioneering or leadership.”

The law should cause a sea change in the overall culture by offering incentives to the private sector, Sheikh Mohammed said. “The law will encourage the private sector to invest in the establishment of libraries and cultural centres. This will be done by providing the private sector with facilities, incentives, and discounts. Our goal is for 2016 to be the start of a sustainable cultural change among generations—a change that consolidates the importance of reading, celebrates knowledge, and boosts the status of reading.”

Related reading: Should bibliotherapy make us feel better? James McWilliams tackles this question at The Millions.

Photo Credit: Khaleej Times.