The Emirates Library | MBRL
The Emirates Library
The Emirates Library shows you the many dimensions of Emirati culture, from early civilisations that populated and traded in the United Arab Emirates, first steps in nation-building, through to today's leaders, innovators, creators, curators and historians, writers and the country's modern renaissance in art and culture.
The Emirates Library is opposite the Business Library on the Sixth Floor of the Mohammed bin Rashid Library building. We're working hard to build one of the most extensive collections of books published in, or written about, the United Arab Emirates and develop a wide range of programmes and events to play an active role in increasing knowledge and understanding of the country's culture and heritage.
Whether you are a researcher, historian or simply a traveler passing through Dubai, if you seek to find out more about the UAE, you will find The Emirates Library most illuminating. Our collection of 35,000 works holds a wide variety of books, documents, periodicals on everything from Emirati cuisine to local antiquities, literature, poetry, history, music, handicrafts, plus the flora and fauna of the UAE.
The Emirates library will host events, programmes and activities relating to Emirati culture and heritage. We aim to bring together local and foreign experts, researchers and champions from the cultural sector to curate, showcase and communicate our history, heritage and culture.
Due to the fragile nature of some of our older and rarer works in our collection, there are also items stored in the Special Collections Library or on display in the permanent exhibition on the Seventh Floor.
Exhibitions
Seek inspiration by joining our exhibitions and events
We are developing a full calendar of exhibitions and events to include arts, culture, literature, media, music and more. Become a member to receive the latest information about our upcoming events.
Treasures of the Library
Our Treasures of the Library permanent exhibition on the Seventh Floor, displays a fascinating collection of rare and antiquarian books, atlases, and manuscripts dating back to the 13th century. The collection includes unique editions of the Holy Quran, early print editions of world literary classics and Latin translations of scholarly works from the Islamic Golden Age.
Among the rare exhibits is the first edition of Blaeu's Atlas Maior the crowning achievement of the famous 17th century Dutch cartographer Johannes Blaeu. Containing approximately 600 individual maps, the atlas was published in 1662 in eleven volumes. Experts regard the Atlas Maior as the most lavish atlas ever produced and it is certainly one of the most beautiful.
The Treasures of the Library also holds a first edition of Napoleon's Description de l'Égypte, an encyclopedic record of Egypt's antiquities, natural history and 18th century nation state. The publication's 34 volumes were produced by a team of hundreds of artists, scholars, engravers and other specialists during Napoleon Bonaparte's 1798-1801 military campaign in Egypt. The Description de l'Égypte is considered one of the greatest achievements of French publishing and a valuable historical record of 18th century Egypt.
Temporary exhibitions
Our Seventh Floor exhibitions area also provides space for temporary exhibitions and events. Check our event calendar for updates.
