Dubai Ruler offers condolences to family of Algerian girl

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, offered his condolences to the family of Algerian teenager who died in an accident on her way to the Arab Reading Challenge national qualification round.  

Fatima Gulam, 17, was taking a 1500-kilometer journey that takes up to 18 hours by car, to arrive to Algiers to join the challenge's round that would pick winners from Algeria.

Sheikh Mohammed commended the student and the people of Algeria, whose participation reached more than 2.2 million students in the Reading Challenge, pointing out that Algeria is the country of knowledge. 

He also ordered that 10 libraries be named after Fatima for striking an example of pursuit and determination for knowledge and reading.

"Just like the words have readers, they also have martyrs," said Sheikh Mohammed.

Fatima is one of more than seven million students from all over the Arab world who participated in this year's challenge.

Launched by Sheikh Mohammed last year, the reading challenge attracted 3.59 million participants from 21 countries and 54 nationalities, where 150 million books were collectively read.

Last year's first place winner was 7-year-old Mohammed Abdullah Farah from Algeria who took home a cash prize $150,000 (Dh550,000) where $100,000 will go towards his university education and $50,000 will be given to his family.