The Old Library in Dubai

24/04/2026

Hidden gems on our shelves ✨

Step into bold, brilliant worlds with Nnedi Okorafor — where African futurism, magic, and myth collide in unforgettable ways.

📚 Akata Witch
📚 Akata Warrior
📚 Binti
📚 Binti: Home
📚 Binti: The Night Masquerade
📚 Lagoon
📚 The Book of Phoenix

If you love fierce heroines, rich world-building, and stories that feel both ancient and futuristic, these are waiting for you.

Come discover your next obsession — quietly powerful, wildly imaginative, and absolutely unmissable. 💫

21/04/2026

31/03/2026

We’re saying goodbye to classics by Morpurgo, King‑Smith, Hoban, Lewis, Wilson and more. Last chance to borrow these unforgettable adventures.

15/03/2026

Dear members,
Please take note of our shorter hours and kindly check out your books at least 10 minutes before closing. This helps our volunteers wrap up smoothly and get home on time. Thank you for your cooperation and support!

09/03/2026

Dear Members,

We are happy to announce that the library will be reopening this week, starting today, 9th March. In light of the current regional uncertainty, we will be trialing our reopening with reduced hours:

Saturday to Thursday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Friday: Closed

As the situation in the region remains delicate, there may be occasions when we need to close at short notice. We appreciate your understanding should this become necessary. If you would like to check whether the library is open before heading out, please feel free to call us on
04 321 3939 or 055 280 8613.

To help reduce the number of trips members need to make to the library during this period, we will temporarily increase the borrowing limit to 12 books per member. (All other rules with regards to renewals/reservations/“Specials”/overdue charges will stay the same.)

All books that were due between 28th February and 8th March have been automatically renewed, and no overdue charges will apply for this period. However, overdue charges will apply for books due from 9th March onwards.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our wonderful team of volunteers for stepping forward to help reopen the library, and to our valued library community for your patience and understanding during the time we were closed.

Please take care and stay safe.

Warm regards,
The Old Library team

04/03/2026

Dear Library Members,
In light of the current regional situation, in the interest of the safety of our members and volunteers, we regret to inform you that The Old Library will remain closed till the coming weekend, 08 March 2026. We are of course constantly monitoring the situation and will let you know as soon as we re-open.
Our dropbox facility is still available should you wish to return any books. For those members who have books due during the time we are closed, we will extend the deadline on these books.
We thank you for your understanding and for your continued support to The Old Library, and we hope to see you all soon once again. In the meantime, take care and stay safe.
Should you have any concerns/questions, do send us an email at [email protected]

28/02/2026

Donate a book, share a story, spark a dream. Join our Book Donation Drive to help build a school library in Kenya. We are supporting a Year 10 student from Raffles International School in this inspiring initiative.
We’re collecting easy‑reading, fun fiction books suitable for children aged 5–15. Please ensure the books are in good condition.
Kindly drop off your books no later than 8th March.

26/02/2026

Last chance to read these beauties before they leave our shelves — don’t miss your moment.

21/02/2026

Ready for an emotional rollercoaster? Join thirteen-year-old Victoria, an aspiring writer who, in these two beautiful books, grapples with adolescence, parents and big feelings.

Reading age 9+ - Parental guidance advised

17/02/2026

The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri

Iran may have been far from the front line in WW2, but it saw some fascinating action. Danial Nayeri explores some of this in his story about orphaned siblings Babak and Sana.

When Babak decides to become a teacher to a nomadic tribe, he and his sister head into the mountains. Along the way they meet Ben, a Jewish boy on the run from a N**i spy and the three children embark on a dangerous adventure.

Based on true events, this story explores the far-reaching effects of war with a message of hope that offers comfort today.