Cultural leaders, authors and educators have hailed the opening of Sharjah's House of Wisdom as the next chapter in the UAE’s rich literary scene.
The glimmering structure, described as a "library of the future", opened to the public on Thursday, December 10, a day after its official inauguration by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah.
At 10am, the multiple gates spread across the 12,000-square-metre site opened and one of the first families to venture inside was Ajman resident Sara Sofia and her two young sons.
Having more than 300,000 books available within a 20-minute drive of her home is a game-changer, she says.
"While this place is an amazing achievement for the UAE, I also need to stress how important it is for communities who live in the Northern Emirates," she tells The National.
“While there are libraries here, of course, to have a detailed and dedicated space like this for culture is really important.”
Sofia speaks both as a parent and educator.
A Mexican linguist and teacher who has called the UAE home for a decade, she approached the House of Wisdom with a keen eye.
In addition to the vibrant and multifaceted space, home to multiple pavilions, she immediately spotted the effectiveness of the minimalist design by renowned British architectural firm Foster + Partners.
“It’s a beautifully designed space that is conducive for learning,” she says. “The minimalism is important because it doesn’t bother the eye and instead relaxes the mind. This is especially important when you have young people here; it helps the concentration and imagination.”
More than a library
Such comments are music to the ears of Khawla Al Hashimi, director of projects at the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), which was behind the project.
The House of Wisdom, which was three years in the making, was never intended to be simply a library; rather, it was envisioned as a central hub for obtaining knowledge in various forms.
“While a major component of the House of Wisdom is celebrating books, when designing the project, we also looked at the concept of learning in all its methods,” Al Hashimi says.
“People not only learn from books but by interacting with people, attending a workshop or witnessing a theatre production. We wanted to tap into all the various forms within the building.”
That eclecticism is prevalent throughout the House of Wisdom, where rich culture and technology meet.
At its heart is The Monumental Library, which will store up to 305,000 books, two thirds of which are in digital form and 11,000 in various languages.
That futuristic touch is also found in Al Jazari Laboratory (known as the Fabrication Lab). Named after 12th-century Mesopotamian inventor Badi Al Zaman Al Jazari, the pavilion features cutting-edge 3D printers, lasers and vinyl-cutting machines.
The nearby Book Espresso Machine section, meanwhile, is a one-stop self-publishing hub, allowing authors and students to print and bind books or research papers on demand.
In addition to art spaces, currently home to two exhibitions by Iraqi-born New York artist Wafaa Bilal, there is a dedicated auditorium to hold cultural events.
Sharjah Book Authority chairman Ahmed Al Ameri, who attended the inauguration, relishes the venue’s prospects.
“We will definitely hold a number of events here throughout the calendar year,” he says.
“There is a lot of scope in what we can do with these amazing spaces. We can launch literary festivals and bring interesting guest speakers. We are already working on this so, really, watch this space.”
Part of a larger design
The arrival of the House of Wisdom has also been felt in neighbouring Dubai.
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature director Ahlam Bolooki predicts the venue will play an influential role in the ecosystem of the UAE cultural scene.
While the venue may be in a different emirate, she already sees how it complements the work of the festival.
“People could attend our festival, be inspired by an author or a subject, and then go to the House of Wisdom to really explore the associated books,” she says.
“Everything feeds into each other. All the joy is shared because what we are doing in this cultural space is important."
This is a message Sharjah author and nasheed singer Ahmed Al Bukhatir will pass on to his children when visiting the site over the weekend.
“I love how it’s not called a library and there is an emphasis on gaining wisdom,” he says.
“The message that I get out of it is that knowledge is not just about reading books alone, but in building your social skills and being challenged by interesting people and subjects.”
The power of imagination
And to do that, sometimes you have to let children roam free.
This was the favourite moment of Sofia’s first visit to the House of Wisdom.
When strolling through The Little Reader section, home to more than 5,000 titles for children and youths, she recalls how her children told her to hang back while they checked out the books alone.
“I just sat in the coffee shop watching them walk through the shelves and looking at all these books,” she says. “As an educator, that was a really powerful moment for me. This the kids saying, 'let me explore, let me just feel it and let me own it'.”
For more information, call the House of Wisdom on +971 6 594 0000
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Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
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Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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Girls full-contact rugby may be in its infancy in the Middle East, but there are already a number of role models for players to look up to.
Sophie Shams (Dubai Exiles mini, England sevens international)
An Emirati student who is blazing a trail in rugby. She first learnt the game at Dubai Exiles and captained her JESS Primary school team. After going to study geophysics at university in the UK, she scored a sensational try in a cup final at Twickenham. She has played for England sevens, and is now contracted to top Premiership club Saracens.
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Seren Gough-Walters (Sharjah Wanderers mini, Wales rugby league international)
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Erin King (Dubai Hurricanes mini, Ireland sevens international)
Aged five, Australia-born King went to Dubai Hurricanes training at The Sevens with her brothers. She immediately struck up a deep affection for rugby. She returned to the city at the end of last year to play at the Dubai Rugby Sevens in the colours of Ireland in the Women’s World Series tournament on Pitch 1.
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