His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the “Mohammed bin Rashid Library”, a new cultural beacon in the region.
Built with an investment of AED 1 billion, the library aims to cultivate a culture of reading, while supporting the development of creativity, knowledge and artistry at individual and social levels.
It will provide a platform for intellectual, literary and imaginative minds from the region and the world.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “Today we are launching a cultural and intellectual edifice for our new generations, through which we aim to promote reading, disseminate knowledge and support researchers and scientists. … Our aim is to enlighten the human spirit”.
His Highness added: “Economics needs knowledge… politics needs wisdom… nations need to learn… and it’s all in books. Through this library, we have collected millions of books to develop our path, consolidate our identity, our culture and our roots… and create our future.
His Highness toured the various sections and facilities of the new cultural monument and reviewed the library’s collection, which will strengthen the UAE’s position as the region’s capital of culture and creativity and as a incubator of intellectual and literary initiatives and projects in the Arab world.
The Library aims to help people with diverse interests, especially young people, to access print and digital books, in order to form an Arab generation that understands the role of reading and culture in the development of society.
On its seven floors, the library presents a significant amount of content.
This includes more than 1.1 million printed and digital books in Arabic and foreign languages, more than 6 million dissertations, approximately 73,000 musical scores, 75,000 videos, approximately 13,000 articles and more than 5,000 printed and digital historical journals. in an archive spanning 325 years, along with approximately 35,000 print and digital newspapers from around the world and nearly 500 rare collectibles.
The library officially opened to the public on Thursday, June 16, 2022
Specialized libraries and updated content
His Excellency Mohammed Al Murr, Chairman of the Board of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, said: “Mohammed bin Rashid Library is one of the most unique public libraries in the region and in the world. This ambitious monument reflects the vision and mindset of His Highness, aimed at improving the UAE’s knowledge and culture sector, and building a broadly-enlightened and scientifically-rich generation to lead our future and elevate our culture. . The library is an important and inspiring milestone among national initiatives. It showcases the history and culture of the UAE and the Arab world, adding a new dimension to the UAE’s knowledge-based economy, helping to redefine the concept of libraries in the 21st century, setting future trends for the next generation of technology. augmented libraries.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Library is part of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI). It was designed as a wooden stand known as “Rahl”, with a total area of 581,903 square feet (54,000 square meters), creating an inspiring environment that advances the cultural landscape and country and allowing access to all social segments, including young people, children, governmental and private institutions, writers, researchers, thinkers and artists. It also welcomes readers and literary and intellectual personalities from the region and the world.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Library has nine specialized libraries, including the General Library, the Emirates Library, the Young Adults Library, the Children’s Library, the Special Collections Library, the Maps and Atlases Library, the Media Library and of the Arts, the Business Library and the Periodicals Library. Library. In addition to paperbacks, the library provides access to a wide range of e-books and other digital media, as well as millions of books, information sources and content from around the world.
Innovation and sustainability
Mohammed bin Rashid Library’s facilities, which use the latest technology and artificial intelligence, include an automated e-book storage and retrieval system, self-service kiosks, a book scanning lab and smart robots to meet visitor demands, in addition to one and virtual reality technologies, among others.
It is also an eco-friendly library that has adopted the highest sustainability standards, as it draws 10% of its energy from solar panels installed on the roof of the building. The external structure is designed to insulate the building’s interior, reduce heat gain and help regulate the building’s internal environment, according to the Dubai government’s media wing.
The library, strategically located in the center of the city, benefits from natural light thanks to the building’s bay windows and is designed to reduce water consumption by 50%. Water is recycled from air conditioners to irrigate green spaces