Abu Dhabi and Amazon Partner Up to Create an Arabic Digital Library
Abu Dhabi and Amazon launch a new digital library to expand access to Arabic literature and strengthen cultural identity.
Abu Dhabi has taken a bold step in advancing Arabic literature and culture by teaming up with Amazon to establish a groundbreaking Arabic digital library.
This initiative, announced during the International Congress of Arabic and Creative Industries, combines local expertise with global tech power to make Arabic books more accessible than ever.
At the heart of the partnership is the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, which will provide curatorial oversight and cultural guidance. Amazon, for its part, will enable widespread distribution using its technological infrastructure and reach. The launch date has yet to be confirmed.
This new digital library will join the ranks of other key regional efforts such as the Dubai Digital Library—established in 2018—which today holds over 245,000 titles spanning books, audiobooks, periodicals, newspapers, magazines, and research papers. Abu Dhabi’s initiative aims to build on that success.
Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) chairman, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, described this project as a “qualitative leap” for the Arabic language and Arab culture. He emphasized that by combining local voices with global platforms, the region can share authentic Arabic narratives and engage audiences worldwide.
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The announcement came alongside new findings from a survey of about 4,000 Arab youths across 10 countries. While 84% expressed that Arabic is central to their identity, many expressed concern over its declining usage in science and digital fields.
The survey also revealed that although many young people would like to work in creative sectors, barriers like limited opportunities, financial risk, and social pressure persist.
The Congress also dealt with broader themes of linguistic identity: sessions covered Arabic large language models, dialect versus Modern Standard Arabic, and digital manuscript restoration. These topics underscore the multifaceted strategy Abu Dhabi is pursuing—not just in creating access but in reaffirming the Arabic literary and cultural heritage in the digital age.