The project, which is coming up on a total area of about 66,000 square meters in Jaddaf area on Dubai Creek, is in line with the municipality’s strategic objective of providing integrated smart technical infrastructure and accomplishing its vision of building a happy and sustainable city.
Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality said the AED 1 billion project is going on in full swing and the remaining work will also be completed according to the highest and most efficient standards.
“The rest of the work is interior and decoration, which will be completed this year in all its details. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library is one of the most important projects that will contribute to the promotion of Dubai’s cultural and literary status, which will enrich the cultural stock and will be one of the new cultural and tourism destinations in Dubai,” said Al Hajri.
“His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai wanted it to be a centerpiece of all the achievements and cultural ideas that the UAE vision carries for a better Arab tomorrow and reserve a place for Arabs among the nations competing for creating future,” he added.
“It is a gift for the educational and cultural movement and a forum for the mingling of cultures and a cultural treasure for the country and will open the doors of knowledge associated with modern technology for all people,” pointed out Al Hajri.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library project is unique and distinguished in terms of size and shape. The library has an architectural form like an open book. The project includes the main building which consists of a basement, ground floor and seven floors containing a central warehouse for books. It also contains a laboratory for preserving books, collecting and processing materials, and facilities for digital conversion of books.
The project also has eight specialized libraries with a million printed, electronic and audio books. The project includes Information Center, Arabic Library, Public Library and Children’s Library, which has corners for reading stories, children’s books and other activities that contribute to the expansion of children’s understanding and endearment of reading. The Family Library focuses on books that cater to safe education to the family members and enhancing family links.
The project also includes International Library, Media Library, Periodicals Library, Audiovisual and Publications Library, Internet Services, Youth Library, study rooms, meeting rooms, as well as a private library containing collectibles, books and rare articles related to Al Maktoum family.
Other highlights include the Business Library, multiple open reading areas, permanent exhibitions, temporary exhibitions, theater, cinema and book lending corners to enable visitors and tourists to keep abreast of the movement of scientific development in the world.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library is also poised to become a forum for the mingling of cultures through the cultural services, which will be provided by the library such as live shows of documentaries and lectures from all over the world. The huge library building will host many cultural and knowledge events and art exhibitions, where the latest technologies will be used in holding them. The library will be equipped to make it one of the largest electronic libraries in the world. It will also serve as a cultural and scientific movement in the country and a catalyst for reading and scientific research and will support writing books, translation works and publishing.
