A new Arabic reading programme will begin expanding across private schools in Ras Al Khaimah following strong results from an early literacy initiative introduced in schools across the emirate.
The programme, called IQRA, focuses on helping younger students build stronger Arabic reading fluency through structured phonics-based instruction. It was designed to support both native and non-native Arabic speakers, particularly in multilingual school environments where students may have limited exposure to Arabic outside the classroom.
Research published by the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research found that students involved in the programme showed noticeable improvements in reading fluency and literacy development during the pilot phase.
Following those results, the programme is now expected to expand further across private schools in Ras Al Khaimah beginning in September 2026.
For many schools across the UAE, helping students feel confident reading in Arabic has been an ongoing goal for years, especially in international and private school settings where students often grow up speaking multiple languages at home and in school.
Rather than focusing heavily on memorisation, IQRA places greater emphasis on decoding sounds, reading fluency and helping students build stronger foundational literacy skills from an earlier stage.
Researchers involved in the study found that students participating in the intervention progressed significantly faster than students who were not part of the programme.
The programme also gives teachers more structured literacy tools and reading strategies specifically designed for early Arabic instruction inside the classroom.
As conversations around literacy development continue growing across UAE schools, programmes like IQRA are increasingly becoming part of wider efforts to make Arabic reading feel more accessible for younger learners.