Top Public Libraries in Dubai

Are you a resident of Dubai looking for a suitable place to read your favorite book or a space that helps you mentally prepare for studying? While there are numerous bookstores in Dubai offering an endless selection of books and novels, there are also public spaces available for reading, open to everyone. You can visit Dubai’s public libraries to enjoy your hobby in a peaceful atmosphere. Today’s article will focus on the locations of public libraries in Dubai, providing you with all the essential information.

List of Public Libraries in Dubai and Their Information

Dubai Public Library

Reading and studying in Dubai is not limited to traditional study spaces. You can also do so in numerous public libraries across the emirate, which offer facilities for visitors. These libraries stand as a testament to the rich cultural development of the United Arab Emirates. Among them, the Dubai Public Library is one of the oldest public libraries in Dubai and the first public library established in the UAE, founded in 1963. It is managed by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and currently known as Ras Public Library due to its location in the Ras area of Dubai.

Library Services

The library’s services are divided into three main categories to better serve its visitors:

Basic Services:

• Information services
• Guidance services
• Reference services
• Internal and external lending
• Current awareness
• Journals and newspapers
• Abstracting

Electronic Services:

• Automated search service
• Library database
• Information databases
• Internet access
• Multi-media services

Support Services:

• Study rooms
• Multipurpose halls
• Facilities for people of determination
• Standard and color photocopying of books and documents
• Standard and color printing from library computers
• Fax sending and receiving
• Spiral and thermal binding
• Scanning
• Lamination services
• Transparency photography
• Digital video discs (DVDs)
• CDs for saving documents from library computers

Children's Libraries

Given the great importance placed on children by library administrators—recognizing them as future builders—and the significance of knowledge and reading from an early age, a dedicated children’s library has been established. This facility includes reading halls, activity rooms, computer labs, and audio-visual resource centers. The library carefully curates a diverse collection of useful books and encyclopedias for every child. In addition, it organizes fun and engaging activities to encourage regular visits, including:

• Selected story readings
• Screenings of cultural and educational films
• Competitions and art workshops
• Cultural quizzes and incentive programs
• Special lectures and seminars for children
• Organized trips and visits for children
• Training courses and various programs
• Specialized services for children with special needs

Branches of Dubai Public Library

The central Dubai Public Library has played a key role in establishing many public libraries throughout the emirate. Guided by the principle of spreading culture and knowledge for all, former leaders Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum authorized the creation of several new libraries in various locations across Dubai. Below are the key details about these branches:

Dubai Munqab Public Library

The Dubai Munqab Public Library is one of the most important libraries in the Munqab area, attracting many readers and students. Established in 2009, it spans a total area of 3,750 square meters and includes multiple multi-use halls and separate prayer areas for men and women.

• Location: Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Street, Munqab Area
• Opening Hours
  • Sunday–Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Friday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Contact: 33222 800

Rashidiya Public Library

Founded in 1989, the Rashidiya Public Library was created as a haven for readers and book lovers in the surrounding neighborhoods. Since its opening, it has remained popular due to its extensive collection of books, magazines, novels, and stories in both Arabic and English.

• Location: Next to Rashidiya Health Center, Street 44, Rashidiya Area
• Opening Hours
  • Monday–Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Contact: 33222 800

Um Sukein Public Library

Established in 1989, Um Sukein Public Library serves residents of the Um Sukein area, enabling them to access resources and knowledge without needing to travel to the main Dubai Public Library. It functions as a model branch, offering all the same services.

• Location: Jumeirah Street, Um Sukein 2
• Opening Hours
  • Sunday–Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Friday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Contact: 33222 800

Tuwair Public Library

One of the eight public libraries under the Dubai Public Library network, Tuwair Library was established in 2007 as a cultural meeting point for the local community. It has become a well-known public library, drawing many visitors who enjoy reading its extensive collection.

• Location: Damascus Street, Tuwair
• Opening Hours
  • Sunday–Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Friday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Contact: 33222 800

In addition to these, there is the Hatta Library, founded in 1998, and the Safa Library, established in 1989. Notably, all branches located in the Ras area share the same services offered by the main library.

Contact Information for Dubai Public Library

• Location: Deira, Ras
• Opening Hours
  • Sunday–Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Friday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Contact: 33222 800

Old Library

The Old Library is the oldest public English-language library in Dubai, established in 1969. It is a non-profit organization created to meet the needs of English-speaking expatriates. Managed entirely by volunteers, membership fees, book sales, and fines are reinvested into improving and expanding the library and acquiring new books. But what is the extraordinary story behind this library?

Remarkably, the library began with a heartwarming gesture. In 1969, a group of Scottish guards serving in the British Royal Air Force stationed in Sharjah felt bored. One of them wrote to his grandmother in London expressing his loneliness. She responded by sending a box filled with yo-yos. The boys shared them with an English language school, where students sent thank-you notes. Delighted, the grandmother decided to send her old books to the students. Eventually, one of the students started keeping the books at home, and over time, the collection grew so large that it needed a larger space.

• Location: Building 7, Gold and Diamond Complex
• Opening Hours
  • Monday–Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Sunday: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
• Contact: 3939 321 04

Jamal Bin Huwayrib Center for Studies

For those who value heritage and history, this is precisely the mission of the Jamal Bin Huwayrib Center for Studies—to preserve this rich intellectual legacy and make it accessible to all. The center emphasizes promoting the Arabic language among Arab communities and beyond through openness to Western cultures and sharing this beautiful tradition. It houses rare books and periodicals across various fields such as religions, languages, social sciences, literature, history, geography, and biographies, serving as a valuable reference for those seeking intellectual grounding. It also offers a wide range of foreign language materials.

• Location: Villa 64, behind Dubai Islamic Bank, Khana Street, Um Sukein 1
• Contact: 0309 394 04

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Library

The Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Library stands as one of Dubai’s most prominent cultural and educational landmarks. It is part of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Knowledge Foundation, dedicated to education and knowledge dissemination. Known for its unique architectural design resembling an open book, the library covers 54,000 square meters and houses over four million books, offering visitors an unmatched intellectual and cultural experience. Additionally, it features a rich collection of children’s books designed to enhance cognitive development, along with various educational events and activities tailored for young visitors.

Library Facilities

• Automated book storage system
• Digital conversion laboratory
• Specialized libraries
• Information center
• Periodicals library
• Atlas and map library
• Media, arts, and audio-visual publications library
• Youth library
• Study rooms
• Performance theater

For more information and contact details about this renowned library, see below:

• Location: Dubai Creek, Al Jadaf
• Contact: 2025 222 04

We’ve reached the end of our article, which explored the most prominent public libraries in Dubai, established to serve as intellectual hubs for countless learners across the emirate, along with their key details. If you’re seeking libraries in other emirates, browse our collection of articles on various library locations, such as the libraries of Fujairah and Ajman—including the Goyal Library and Book Land Library. Feel free to share your thoughts and comments in the section below—we’re always ready to assist and engage with you.