Dubai’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Library offers more than conventional printed books, with a growing range of Braille, audio and digital resources designed to make reading and learning more accessible.
The library says its collections include more than 2,500 Braille books in Arabic and English alongside over 10,000 audio resources, with additional digital reading available through platforms such as Libby and multilingual initiatives.
For families with visually impaired children or adults, People of Determination, educators and readers who prefer listening to books, these services can make one of Dubai’s largest libraries considerably more accessible.
More than 2,500 Braille books
Mohammed Bin Rashid Library has developed a substantial collection for people who are blind or have low vision.
Its current collection includes more than 2,500 Braille books in Arabic and English, covering areas such as:
literature, science, history, education, children’s stories and general knowledge.
The library had already reported more than 2,000 Braille titles in 2023, so the latest figure also shows that the collection has continued to expand.
Braille materials are not confined only to adult reading. The library has previously highlighted accessible children’s titles as part of its efforts to support younger readers with visual impairments.
There are more than 10,000 audio resources
The library also provides more than 10,000 audio resources.
This can be useful for people who cannot comfortably use conventional print, but audio reading can also help readers who simply absorb information more effectively by listening.
The library’s digital offering includes ebooks and audiobooks through Libby, subject to the relevant membership conditions.
Families should check individual title availability rather than assuming that every printed book is also available in audio format.
Multilingual reading goes beyond English and Arabic
The library is also developing tools that make content available across languages.
Its current A World in Your Language initiative uses digital technology, including artificial intelligence, to help readers access selected books and knowledge resources in different languages and, where available, listen to them as well.
That can have value beyond disability access.
Dubai families often live in multilingual households, and readers may be more comfortable exploring a subject first in their strongest language.
It can also help introduce Arabic literature and Emirati cultural material to people who do not read Arabic fluently.
The building itself has accessibility features
Accessible reading is not useful if reaching and navigating the library is difficult.
Mohammed Bin Rashid Library says its facilities include:
- accessible pathways and ramps;
- Braille signage;
- audio and visual alarm systems;
- emergency evacuation chairs; and
- sensory pods.
The building was designed in line with the Dubai Universal Design Code, and the library has also highlighted its Autism-Friendly Certification as part of its efforts to accommodate visitors with different sensory and cognitive needs.
Assistive technology is part of the service
The library has also developed specialist equipment for readers with visual impairments.
Earlier library information lists equipment such as:
magnification devices, reading equipment and Braille printers.
During its 2026 AccessAbilities Expo participation, the library demonstrated an Emprint Braille Printer, allowing visitors to see how text can be produced in Braille.
Not every demonstration shown at an exhibition should automatically be assumed to operate as an unrestricted walk-in service every day, however.
Families who need a specific device or assistance should confirm availability with the library before visiting.
How could this help children?
For a child with a visual impairment, access to books in an appropriate format can make a large difference to whether reading feels independent or dependent on another person.
Accessible library resources can support:
school reading, independent exploration, recreational reading and familiarity with Braille.
The availability of children’s stories in accessible formats is therefore particularly useful.
Families may also find that audio resources give children another way to experience stories when conventional print is unsuitable.
What about adults and older family members?
Accessibility is not only a children’s issue.
Adults who develop sight difficulties later in life may find audiobooks, magnification equipment or digital resources easier to use than ordinary printed material.
Older family members who no longer read comfortably for extended periods may also find listening formats useful.
The important point is that accessible reading should not be treated as a separate niche collection.
It can allow people with different needs to use the same cultural institution in ways that work for them.
Is everything available without membership?
Not necessarily.
Some in-library resources may be available to visitors, while borrowing and digital services can depend on membership and the terms attached to the individual platform or resource. MBRL specifically notes that access to its digital resources is provided according to membership conditions.
Before making a special visit, families should check:
membership requirements;
borrowing conditions;
digital access;
availability of a particular Braille or audio title;
whether specialised assistance needs to be requested; and
current library opening hours.
The library’s published contact number is 800 627523, with further information available through its official website.
The October exhibition was the introduction, not the service itself
The immediate news hook came from Mohammed Bin Rashid Library’s participation in AccessAbilities Expo 2026, held at Dubai World Trade Centre from 19–21 October.
The exhibition has finished.
But the more useful story for residents is that many of the resources showcased there are part of the library’s wider accessibility work rather than one-off exhibition displays.
That gives this information a much longer life than an event announcement.
MalluMetro Take
A library becomes genuinely public when people can access knowledge in more than one format.
For some readers, that means print.
For others, it may mean Braille, audio, digital reading, translation technology or a quieter sensory environment.
Mohammed Bin Rashid Library’s combination of 2,500+ Braille books, 10,000+ audio resources, digital platforms and accessible facilities makes this a practical resource worth knowing about — particularly for families who may not realise these services already exist in Dubai.
The useful first step is simple:
check the library’s current collection and membership conditions, then contact the library before visiting if a family member requires a particular accessible format or facility.
Verified sources: Mohammed Bin Rashid Library and Emirates News Agency. Accessibility information rechecked 12 November 2026.
Source: Emirates News Agency, 15 October 2026.