PICTURES: A look inside Dubai’s incredible new library

Book lovers, this one’s for you! Brand new images of the Mohammed bin Rashid Library have been released and, it looks like the AED1 billion project will be well worth the wait.

Director General of views progress of Mohammed bin Rashid Library project covering an area of 66,000 square metres

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice)

The project, that was announced on February 1, 2016 in coordination with the Year of Reading, is set to be completed sometime next year and will feature over 4.5 million books.

Aside from housing a plethora of information, the stunning library will host a number of events such as culture and education festivals. It will also feature a number of exhibition and lecture halls as well as a 500-seat theatre.

According to the library’s official website, it will be far more than your average knowledge hub. It will, in fact, be “the largest cultural centre in the Middle East and North Africa region”.

If you’re new to Dubai or haven’t really been keeping up with the city’s many up-and-coming projects, here’s a bit more information on the multi-purpose library…

• It will be seven floors high and will span across 66,000 square metres.
• Aside from books, the library will also feature artefacts from the Al Maktoum family’s personal collection and a centre for the restoration and conservation of books.
• The building has been designed in the shape of the rehl – the traditional lectern which is often used to carry the Holy Quran.
• It will be located on the Dubai Creek in the Al Jaddaf area.
• Once complete, the library will be equipped with 2,600 seats as well as the latest state-of-the-art technology and smart applications.
• The Mohamed bin Rashid Library is expected to receive some 9 million visitors annually.
• While the exact project completion date is not yet know, it is expected to be complete by 2018.