Mohammed Bin Rashid Library Strengthens Cultural Hub Status with 2.5 Million Visitors in Four Years
Dubai: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library (MBRL) has celebrated four years since its inauguration, marking significant achievements that solidify its role as a premier cultural and knowledge institution in the region. This milestone aligns with Dubai’s ambition to establish itself as a global center for culture, innovation, and lifelong learning.
Since its opening, the Library has attracted over 2.5 million visitors and facilitated nearly 11,000 visits from diplomatic, official, institutional, and school delegations. The membership has grown to more than 41,000 across various categories, while total book loans have surpassed 53,000, indicating a rising public interest in its diverse services, collections, and programs.
The Library boasts an impressive collection of over 1.3 billion digital knowledge resources in more than 90 languages, complemented by approximately 760,000 printed materials. This extensive repository offers one of the most comprehensive knowledge ecosystems in the region. Facilities include nine specialized libraries and an Information Centre, catering to readers, researchers, students, and knowledge seekers of all ages.
Dr. Mohammed Salem Al Mazrooei, Board Member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, remarked on the significance of this anniversary, stating that it represents a crucial milestone in a journey characterized by continuous growth and achievement. He emphasized that the Library has reinforced its status as a leading cultural and knowledge institution, becoming a vital part of Dubai’s cultural landscape and a dynamic platform for knowledge, innovation, creativity, and community engagement.
He further noted the Library’s commitment to expanding its collections, services, and programs to meet the evolving needs of society. This dedication is reflected in the strong public engagement observed in its specialized libraries, particularly the Children’s and Young Adult libraries, which have recorded over 126,500 visits.
Over the past four years, MBRL has initiated several strategic programs aimed at promoting reading, enhancing access to knowledge, and supporting cultural development. Initiatives such as “A World Reads” have reached more than half a million individuals, while “A World in Your Language” employs advanced technologies to provide translated knowledge content in 12 languages.
In addition, the Library has launched the National Publications Revival initiative, aimed at preserving and promoting the UAE’s intellectual and cultural heritage. The “Knowledge Horizons” initiative has also provided over 8,600 students from public and private schools in Dubai with access to leading digital knowledge databases during its initial phase.
To further enhance its contribution to knowledge production, the Library has established a dedicated publishing and translation arm focused on enriching Arabic content across various future-oriented disciplines, including artificial intelligence, climate change, space sciences, environmental studies, and the humanities.
Among its notable projects is the Dubai Archive initiative, designed to preserve and document the emirate’s cultural and historical memory for future generations. Through its Restoration Centre, specialists have restored approximately 150 manuscripts utilizing advanced conservation and preservation technologies.
Since its inception, the Library has organized and hosted over 750 cultural, literary, artistic, and knowledge events, including seminars, workshops, exhibitions, and dialogue sessions. It has also expanded its international presence by participating in major book fairs and cultural forums worldwide, as well as organizing the Dubai International Library and Publishing Summit for two consecutive years, attracting participation from over 25 countries.
MBRL’s accomplishments have garnered recognition through several prestigious awards, including the Best Arab Library and Information Institution Award and the Excellence in the Use of Artificial Intelligence Award.
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Published on 2026-06-16 02:10:00 • By the Editorial Desk
