3. April 2025
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Mohammed bin Rashid Library (Pict. Story)

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

In 2022, Dubai has opened a new educational facility. The Mohammed bin Rashid Library has become one of the most iconic buildings in the Al Jaddaf locality, right next to the Dubai Creek. Its architecture is definitely an eye-catcher. Not only because my wife is working in a library, we were really interested to visit this place and explore the facilities of a very modern library. Here is my Pictured Story.

 

Mohammed bin Rashid Library – Location & Times

Mohammad bin Rashid Library is located on the Southern bank of Dubai Creek. By public transport, you may take the Green line of the Dubai Metro to Creek Metro station. However, it is easier to drive to the library by car or by taxi. There is a free, covered parking lot in front of the facility.

The library is closed on Sundays. All other days, you can visit the place from 9:00 to 21:00. On Fridays, doors open at 14:00. It is fine and for free entering the library as a visitor. You may even browse in the books and read within the building. You do need an Emirates ID to enroll for a membership and to borrow books to take them home. Of course, the Mohammad bin Rashid Library is an educational facility and very popular among locals to study and learn. You should thus be very respectful to other visitors of the place.

 

Mohammed bin Rashid Library – The Building

The shape of the museum is inspired by a rehal, a typical foldable book rest, as it is used in several other cultures. The construction of the building kicked off in September 2016. It was delayed, compared to the original plan, and finally opened on 16th June 2022. In the interior, you hardly recognize the V-shape of the building though. It consists of nine floors (basement, ground floor, seven upper levels). It is driven by the Dubai Municipality.

 

Mohammed bin Rashid Library – Inside the Library

The main entrance to the library is on the West, heading away from Dubai Creek. You can also access the building from the Dubai Creek side. On that side, we also ran into a nice, interactive screen, which allowed to explore different kind of literature. From both sides, you enter the impressing main hall. The total collection of the Mohammad bin Rashid Library consists of 1.5 million printed books, with about 300,000 to 400,000 items in open access. There are also about three different other items of media, like digital or audio books. Part of the physical collection is in display in huge cupboards in the main hall. However, there is also an augmented reality screen and a cafe, which lead to an enjoyable visit. You see and feel the modern facilities of the library. You can borrow and return books by self-booking machines without reception interaction, for example.

My wife and I visited different sections of the library. There is a lot of space to relax and to study in most of the sections. You also have quite a lot of modern facilities which allow you to use the media provided. I especially loved the beautifully decorated children’s library, which also came with colorful places for the kids to hang out and read a book. Members could also borrow tablets during their visit. The more scientific sections came with many work desks, many of them were taken by people reading or studying. Also due to the shape of the building, the different libraries feature their own style and design.

 

Mohammed bin Rashid Library – Arab Journalism Exhibition

The upper level of the Mohammed bin Rashid Library does not feature books or other media, but with two special exhibitions. Unfortunately, the one about the treasures of the library was closed. However, we were to visit the Arab Journalism Exhibition, which is located on the opposite side. It does not feature newspapers and magazines, but a wide range of publications, from books about arts to children comics. As I am typically not exposed to that topic, the exhibition was very interesting to me. Like typically in the Emirates, the documentation was in Arabic and English.

 

Mohammed bin Rashid Library – Languages Garden

Right outside the Mohammed bin Rashid Library, at the Dubai Creek side, there is the Dubai Languages Garden. It is a set of colored pillars, featuring quotes translated into a total of 171 languages. You should definitely explore this place when you are around as well.

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