Abu Dhabi National Library

The Abu Dhabi National Library is committed to the collection, preservation and promotion of books, as well as reading, writing and research in the UAE and the wider Arab world. Established in 1981, the National Library not only houses the UAE’s largest collection of books and manuscripts, it is also home to other documents and digital knowledge resources, promoting a culture of reading and writing in the UAE and being an important resource for researchers and academics.

The National Library houses more than two million volumes of books, periodicals, manuscripts and electronic materials, including more than 300,000 titles in Arabic and 100,000 titles in other languages. It collects, preserves and displays ancient Arab and Islamic manuscripts covering areas such as literature, religion, science and the arts.

 

These manuscripts are on display at the National Library building that can be visited during normal business hours. The library offers its services to researchers and readers 14 hours a day and is also open on weekends. The library maintains an online catalogue of all the resources available in its collection and supports researchers conducting work that is generally focused on the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf region and the Arab world.

The National Library also hosts engaging festivals, including the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair and the Al Ain Book Fair, and awards programmes such as the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, with these events building awareness and interest in reading and writing among the UAE population and the wider Arabic-speaking world.

The National Library also publishes original works in Arabic, as well as foreign books translated into Arabic through programmes such as Kalima and Esdarat, and supports Emirati authors through the Qalam initiative. Additionally, it operates community libraries and bookmobiles across Abu Dhabi.