A mystery company has clinched a AED1bn ($272mn) contract to build Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Library.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, deputy ruler of Dubai, approved the deal for the 650,000 square feet property with work set to commence by mid-2018, news agency WAM reported.
Designed in the shape of an open book on a lectern, the seven-storey building will house more than 4.5 million printed, digital and audio books and is expected to receive 42 million visitors per year.
It will also host over cultural events, a permanent art gallery, and a home for specialised institutions that support development of the Arabic language content.
The library includes a centre for conservation and restoration of books, manuscripts and documents, a special library for the Al Maktoum collection and a civilisation museum.
Hussein Nasser Lootah, director-general of Dubai Municipality, said: “The library will significantly harness modern technology to serve scientific research, dissemination of knowledge and advanced sciences.
“It will be a world a credible reference in Arabic language and a destination for specialists, scientists, researchers, writers, poets, intellectuals, talented minds and students. It will also serve as an incubation for publishers.”
