Oman Air has announced its support for a vital mobile literacy project, which supports and encourages Omani children of all ages to improve their reading skills.

The national carrier of Oman has donated a large number of Arabic and English-language books, including many that have been provided by major Arab publishing houses, to the Maktabati project, set up by the Dar Al-Atta Charity Association.

The books were given to Jean Jafar of the Dar Al Atta Charity Association, by Khalid Abdul Wahab Al-Balushi, senior manager government relations and sustainability for Oman Air, at the airline’s headquarters in Muscat.

Al-Balushi was also responsible for coordinating the airline’s contribution to the Maktabati project.

Al-Balushi commented: “We are delighted to be supporting the Dar Al-Atta Association’s vital campaign. Children throughout Oman are finding, through the work of the Maktabati project, that Arab poet Al-Mutanabi spoke wisely when he said that ‘the book is the best companion’, and the resulting increase in reading skills within Oman has the potential to make an important contribution to the lives and well-being of future generations, and of the nation as a whole.”

Jean Jafar of the Dar Al-Atta Charity Association said: “The books will help to stock the shelves of our mobile library, which is housed within a spacious, air-conditioned bus and travels the country to provide children of all ages with interesting and suitable reading matter.”

Oman Air’s contribution to the project is being supplemented by donations from other major Omani companies, government departments and private agencies.