A Book in Every Corner
Books in the City | Reading Initiatives
Books in the City is a city-wide initiative that reimagines reading beyond the page —
transforming everyday spaces into curated, immersive literary experiences.
With approximately 45 reading locations across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, the initiative weaves
reading seamlessly into the emirate’s cultural and social fabric, making it accessible,
engaging, and part of everyday life for all ages.
At the heart of the initiative is Books in the City, placing books where people already gather
— in cafés, heritage sites, malls, parks, and more — turning the emirate into
an open, living library, one page at a time.
NovelBrew
A café-based reading experience that blends literature with everyday social
environments through themed coffee concepts and QR-enabled access to digital library
content, creating an engaging and accessible entry point to reading.
Take a Book Leave a Book
A community-driven book exchange model using mini-library units in public spaces,
encouraging sharing, reuse, and informal access to books while fostering a culture of
collective ownership.
Meead
A cultural activation initiative distributing curated books across heritage and cultural
destinations, connecting reading with place-based experiences and enhancing engagement in
public spaces.
Offline Reading Club
A community reading format encouraging participants to disconnect from digital devices and
engage in shared, focused reading experiences within curated cultural environments.
