All of Dubai’s public libraries are going to be revamped, with the Safa branch the first to get a makeover…

By this time next year, Safa Public Library – which is currently marooned by Dubai Canal construction – will look like this:

safa-park-libraryPhoto: Instagram/LatifaMRM1

The new-and-improved library will be the first transformation in an initiative that will revamp all Dubai Public Libraries. This was announced yesterday by Shaikha Latifa Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the vice-chairman of Dubai Culture.

The Al Safa library will have a focus on books about arts and design, will have sections for both Arabic and English language publications and will also have digital content databases available to everyone (including stock image libraries).

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The space will also act as a community centre for Dubai’s creative folk and will have an area dedicated to showcasing the works of the local community.

Here’s where you’ll find it:

safa-public-library-map

Shaikha Latifa said the revamping of the libraries was in line with the President of the UAE’s declaration that 2016 will be the ‘Year of Reading’.

The renovation work will be a collaboration between Dubai Culture Authority and Dubai Municipality and will eventually see all eight libraries for adults and seven for children in Dubai completely revamped.

The heart of the cities literary scene will of course be the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, which is set to open in 2017: dubai-library-4

“The overhaul of the current public library system is a step in the right direction towards achieving our ambitious goals as part of the Dubai 2021 vision and, through this collaboration, we aim to highlight the importance of creativity and facilitate easy access to knowledge through reading,” said Hussain Nasser Lootah, director-general of Dubai Municipality.

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