Qasr Al Watan Library offers free membership

As part of its efforts to enhance access to knowledge sources, remove obstacles for reading enthusiasts and learning pioneers, and attract more visitors to benefit from the knowledge treasures it offers, Qasr Al Watan Library, affiliated with the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center, has made its membership free for all citizens and residents of the UAE.

Free library membership can be obtained by registering on the website of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi.

This is to benefit from specialized knowledge sources in all fields and to view a valuable and diverse group of titles and publications that have been carefully selected.

Visiting the library is a unique experience, as it is located in one of the few presidential headquarters in the world that members of the public are allowed to visit.

Sections and importance of Qasr Al Watan Library The library includes a diverse collection of titles and educational resources and is an important historical reference that embodies pivotal stages in the cultural journey of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi through the official and historical documents it provides. At the same time, the library houses rare books and manuscripts such as the French-Arabic dictionary that accompanied Napoleon’s campaign, a copy of the book “Hayy ibn Yaqzan” by Edward Pocock, and the book “Al-Ajrumiya” in Latin from the seventeenth century, and other titles that include stories and discoveries spanning centuries.

The library also includes publications of cultural institutions, research centers, official bodies, and local publishing houses, in addition to literary books and Arabic language research. It also contains a range of specialized books covering the fields of antiquities, heritage, memoirs, biographies, culture, literature, and arts, in digital and paper editions, distributed in the halls and comfortable interior spaces of the library, which are equipped with computers and electronic devices.

The library periodically hosts cultural and educational events that promote the culture of reading and Arabic content.

The library annually attracts thousands of visitors from the country’s residents and visitors from various countries around the world. During the first half of this year, it received about 270,000 visitors, with a growth rate of 46%, compared to the same period last year.