Best Bookstores & Stationery Shops in UAE

In a city known for its malls and material culture, the UAE's book and stationery scene offers a refreshing counter-narrative. From the awe-inspiring shelves of Kinokuniya to the quiet community feel of independent Arabic bookshops and the premium stationery haven that is Paperchase, the UAE has built a book and stationery retail landscape that serves readers, students, professionals, artists, and stationery enthusiasts with genuine depth. This guide covers where to find the best books, the most interesting stationery, and everything in between across the emirates.

Major Bookstore Chains

Kinokuniya Dubai

Kinokuniya at Dubai Mall is the jewel in the crown of UAE bookstores and arguably the finest bookshop in the Middle East. Spanning over 68,000 square feet across two levels, this branch of the Japanese bookstore chain stocks approximately 500,000 titles in English, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, French, German, and several other languages. The English-language fiction section alone is vast, covering literary fiction, crime, thriller, science fiction, romance, and every other genre in depth. The non-fiction selection covers business, technology, science, history, cooking, art, philosophy, and self-help with a breadth that most online retailers struggle to match in physical form.

What sets Kinokuniya apart is the quality of curation. Staff recommendations are thoughtful, the displays are thematic rather than purely promotional, and the store makes a genuine effort to stock titles from independent publishers and smaller presses alongside mainstream bestsellers. The manga and Japanese literature section is one of the best outside Japan, and the Arabic literature section is comprehensive, featuring contemporary Emirati, Saudi, and Levantine authors alongside classical Arabic texts. Prices are in line with or slightly above Amazon.ae for most titles, but the experience of browsing a physical bookstore of this calibre is worth the modest premium. A typical novel costs AED 45-80, non-fiction hardbacks AED 70-150, and children's picture books AED 30-60.

Magrudy's

Magrudy's is the UAE's homegrown bookstore chain and a cultural institution that predates the mall era. Founded in 1975, the chain has stores in several locations including Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif, Dubai Festival City, and Jumeirah. Magrudy's strength lies in its deep understanding of the local market — their selection of children's books, educational resources, and school supplies reflects decades of serving UAE families. The children's section is particularly well-curated, and staff can recommend age-appropriate titles with genuine knowledge.

Magrudy's also operates a stationery and office supplies division, making it a one-stop shop for parents during the back-to-school season. Art supplies, greeting cards, gift wrap, and journals round out the non-book offering. Prices are competitive with Kinokuniya, and the loyalty card programme offers credits on purchases. For a broader range of shopping options, check retail listings on GoProfiled →.

Borders (Now Closed) and Virgin Megastore

While Borders has closed its UAE operations, Virgin Megastore has partially filled the gap with book sections in its Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, and City Centre Deira stores. The book selection at Virgin is smaller than Kinokuniya or Magrudy's but is well-curated, with a focus on bestsellers, gift books, and coffee table editions. The stores also stock a solid range of stationery, vinyl records, and pop culture merchandise that makes them a good destination for gift shopping.

Independent and Specialty Bookshops

Book World by Kinokuniya

Several smaller branches of Kinokuniya operate under the "Book World" banner in malls including Ibn Battuta and City Centre Deira. These are more compact stores with curated selections focused on bestsellers, children's books, and stationery. While lacking the depth of the Dubai Mall flagship, they serve as convenient neighbourhood bookshops for regular readers.

House of Prose

House of Prose in Jumeirah is a beloved independent bookshop that has served the community since the 1980s. The store specialises in secondhand books, with thousands of titles spanning fiction, non-fiction, and children's literature at prices of AED 10-30 per book. It operates on a trade-in model where customers can exchange their read books for credit toward new purchases — a sustainable and budget-friendly approach to reading that has earned it a loyal following. The atmosphere is charming and slightly chaotic in the best possible way, with stacks of books creating narrow browsing corridors that reward patient exploration.

Arabic Literature Sources

For Arabic-language books, Kinokuniya's Arabic section is the most comprehensive in the UAE's bookstore retail landscape. The Sharjah International Book Fair, held annually in November, is the world's third-largest book fair and the largest in the Arab world, with over 2,000 publishers from more than 80 countries presenting millions of titles. During the fair, book prices are significantly discounted, and the range of Arabic literature, academic texts, and children's books available is unmatched at any other time of year. Al Mutanabbi Street and Book Souq references may also lead you to specialised dealers in classical Arabic texts, religious literature, and academic publications.

Stationery and Art Supplies

Premium Stationery

For stationery enthusiasts — and the UAE has a surprisingly passionate stationery community — several retailers cater to the desire for beautiful paper goods, premium pens, and well-designed office accessories. Paperchase, with stores in Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, offers a vibrant and design-forward range of notebooks (AED 25-80), pens, pencil cases, planners, and gift stationery. Typo (Cotton On's stationery brand) operates in several malls with a similarly colourful offering at slightly lower price points. For premium writing instruments, Montblanc (Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates), Parker, and Cross have dedicated boutiques, while Kinokuniya stocks a comprehensive range of Japanese stationery brands including Midori, Pilot, and Tombow that are highly regarded among stationery aficionados.

Art Supplies

Fine art supplies in the UAE are available from several specialist retailers. Creative Minds in Al Quoz is a dedicated art supply store stocking professional-grade paints, canvases, brushes, and drawing materials from brands like Winsor & Newton, Schmincke, and Faber-Castell. Prices are higher than online (expect to pay 20-30% more than Amazon.ae for the same products), but the ability to test materials and get expert advice justifies the premium for many artists. Dubai Art Supply, also in the Al Quoz area, is another option with a focus on canvas, painting supplies, and framing services.

Office and School Supplies

For everyday stationery and office supplies, Carrefour and LuLu hypermarkets offer the most competitive pricing. A pack of 10 ballpoint pens costs AED 5-10, basic notebooks AED 2-5 each, and complete school stationery sets AED 20-40. Office Centre stores in several malls provide a more comprehensive range of professional office supplies, printing services, and business stationery. During the back-to-school season (August-September), all major retailers run stationery promotions with discounts of 20-40%. Browse shopping destinations on GoProfiled → for stationery and office supply options.

E-Readers and Digital Books

Kindle and Digital Options

Amazon Kindle devices are widely available in the UAE through Amazon.ae, Sharaf DG, and Jumbo Electronics. The Kindle ecosystem is fully supported, with the UAE Kindle Store offering an extensive selection of English-language titles (and a growing Arabic selection) at prices typically 30-50% below physical book retail. A Kindle Paperwhite retails at approximately AED 550, and most bestselling e-books are priced at AED 30-55 — consistently cheaper than physical editions. Kobo devices are also available, though with less local retail support. For readers who consume multiple books per month, the savings from switching to digital are significant.

Book Culture in the UAE

Reading Communities and Events

The UAE's reading culture has been actively nurtured by government initiatives and community organisations. The Sharjah International Book Fair (November) is the headline event, but Dubai also hosts regular literary festivals, author events, and book launches throughout the year. Book clubs meet regularly across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and several cafes in Alserkal Avenue and DIFC host literary events. The UAE's national reading strategy aims to make the country one of the most literate nations globally, and the investment in public libraries — including the stunning Mohammed Bin Rashid Library in Dubai — reflects this commitment. Explore cultural and shopping destinations in Dubai on GoProfiled →.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best bookstore in Dubai?

Kinokuniya in Dubai Mall is widely considered the best bookstore in the UAE and one of the finest in the Middle East. With approximately 500,000 titles across multiple languages, two levels of browsing space, and knowledgeable staff, it offers a bookstore experience that is unmatched in the region. For secondhand books, House of Prose in Jumeirah is a local favourite.

Are books expensive in the UAE?

Physical books in the UAE are moderately priced — a typical novel costs AED 45-80, non-fiction hardbacks AED 70-150, and children's picture books AED 30-60. These prices are comparable to UK retail pricing. The Sharjah International Book Fair in November offers discounted pricing across millions of titles, and secondhand bookshops like House of Prose sell at AED 10-30 per book.

Where can I buy Arabic books in the UAE?

Kinokuniya has the best permanent Arabic book section among UAE bookstores. The Sharjah International Book Fair (November) is the world's largest Arabic book event. Several specialist Arabic bookshops operate in Sharjah and Deira. Online, Jamalon.com is the leading Arabic-language online bookstore with delivery to the UAE.

Where can I find art supplies in Dubai?

Creative Minds and Dubai Art Supply in Al Quoz are the main dedicated art supply retailers, stocking professional-grade materials from leading brands. Kinokuniya also carries a solid range of art supplies, particularly Japanese brands. For basic and student-grade supplies, Carrefour, LuLu, and stationery stores in most malls carry starter ranges. Online, Amazon.ae offers competitive pricing with free delivery on Prime orders.