Affordable bookshops in Dubai to buy classics or bestsellers
There’s nothing much better than letting your imagination run wild as you lose yourself in a great book. Millions across the globe cherish their reading time dearly. For those many lovers of the written word, being able to pick up their next indulgence in escapism at wallet-friendly prices is news worthy of note. Luckily, there are a number of shops to buy cheap books in Dubai that are nothing short of a treasure trove for bookworms.
Here is a list of affordable bookshops in Dubai where you can pursue your passion for books at half the cost of the larger mall-based stores.
PLACES TO BUY CHEAP BOOKS IN DUBAI
There are a number of bookstores in Dubai that will fuel your passion for reading but only a few of them offer inexpensive books. So read on as we unveil Dubai’s cheapest bookstores…where you can pick up your next book at a super reasonable price.
HOUSE OF PROSE
House of Prose is the gold standard for second-hand bookshops in Dubai. It features a huge variety of genres at reasonable prices. The well-designed interior and wooden-shelved book aisles will recreate that special feel of the corner bookstore you loved as a kid.
You can also scavenge the antique sections for some truly remarkable finds including autographed first editions. It costs as low as AED 5 per book. This is also one of the top thrift stores in Dubai.
- Location: Multiple including Times Square Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Quoz
- Timings: 10:00 am – 09:30 pm, Fri-Sat: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Contact: +971-4-344-9021
BOOKWORLD & ARCHIES BOOKSTORE & LIBRARY
BookWorld & Archies Bookstore and Library (aka BookWorld) is one of the best places to rent or buy cheap books in Dubai. It possesses a large collection of English books, comics, magazines and a variety of other genres.
There are floor-to-ceiling sliding bookshelves to ensure a pleasant browsing experience. You’ll end up spending a lot of time going through the different book sections. You can also find popular titles in foreign languages and other common reads, such as the National Geographic magazine.
The books and novels for sale in this Dubai bookstore vary in price as per their condition. The price for a paperback in Book World range between AED 5 and AED 50.
Although the prices are marked, you can test your bargaining skills at this cheap bookstore in Dubai as there is sometimes room for discounts.
- Locations: Satwa and Karama
- Timing: 11:00 am – 09:30 pm | Friday 02:00 pm – 09:30 pm
- Contact: +971-4-349-1914
THE OLD LIBRARY
You can also look for affordable books in Dubai at one of the oldest libraries in the city, aptly called The Old Library. Previously located in DUCTAC in Mall of the Emirates, this cheap bookshop in Dubai has since moved to the Gold and Diamond Park. Staying true to its name, this library stocks a rich collection of books for children, teenagers and adults.
The Old Library is an old-fashioned, non-profit venture. There are huge volumes of used novels for sale on one of the shelves and it also possesses vintage books. You can pay AED 231 as an annual subscription fee.
If you don’t like browsing a huge variety of stocks, the library staff are very helpful. There are also unpaid volunteers who are happy to help. The Old Library is also a wonderful place to donate things in Dubai.
- Location: Building 7, Gold and Diamond Park
- Timing: Monday to Saturday: 10:00 am – 06:00 pm | Closed on Sunday
- Contact: +971-4-321-3939
BOOK HERO
Another place to find old books in Dubai at an affordable price is Book Hero. The bookshop features one of the best collections of second-hand books in Dubai and is located at 15 locations throughout the city.
Those living on Sheikh Zayed Road will love to visit the bookshop to find affordable books in Dubai. Book Hero is not a typical bookshop as it runs on consumer trust.
It is one of the only cheap bookshops in Dubai that runs without any staff. After finding your favourite title, you can sit for a quick read or you can get a book and drop the sum in the payment box. This payment goes towards The Animal Project which is a program to support animals.
This place for affordable books in Dubai also allows you to pay later if you cannot afford to pay for all books together. Book Hero is also a good place to find best-selling novels and other books for kids from its collection of thousands of titles.
You can find the books that are sold for as little as AED 10 or AED 20. Book Hero also encourages customers to contribute to the library by donating books.
- Location: Multiple
- Contact: +971-50-788-7025
ARCHIES LENDING LIBRARY
Located in Al Karama, Archies Lending Library and Bookstore boast a collection of thousands of titles in various languages. Look for your favourite book from a variety of genres for novels and other books including biographies. There is also a significant variety of kids’ books including comics and storybooks. The staff of the library is also supportive and friendly.
- Location: Dubai Pyramid Building, 11th Street, Al Karama
- Timing: 11:00 am – 09:30 pm | Friday 02:00 pm – 09:30 pm
- Contact: +971-4-396-7924
DC BOOKS DUBAI
One of the cheap bookshops in Dubai which is especially popular for having a good collection of regional literature from India is DC Books. While the selection of books is relatively smaller than those you would find in other Dubai book shops, you might find some hidden gems here. The average price for books here starts from AED 30-40. DC Books also has an online store.
- Location: Near Metro Station, Besides President Hotel, Karama
- Contact: +971-4-354-8448
AL MUTANABBI BOOKSHOP
Located in Al Karama, Al Mutannabi Bookshop (also known as Al Batra Bookshop) is another book place to buy cheap books in Dubai. The store offers comics, novels, biographies, fiction and textbooks. You can also buy stationery as well as art and crafts supplies from the bookshop.
- Location: Al Karama – Al Nahda 1
- Contact: +971-56-930-7201
WELCOME BOOKSHOP
Nestled in Al Karama, Welcome Bookshop has a relatively smaller store filled with books of a great variety. Along with the regular books, they have a rare collection that bibliophiles of all interests can buy!
- Location: Block # 1 Street # 13B, Al Karama
- Timings: 09:00 am – 09:00 pm, Fri: closed
- Contact: +971-4-396-1016
ONLINE PLACES TO BUY CHEAP BOOKS IN DUBAI
BOOKENDS
Bookend.ae is an online marketplace for buying and selling pre-loved books. The online bookstore is a great spot to get your hands on affordable books in Dubai. Bookends.ae updates its book lists each day. The books are available in various genres and languages. Shipping is available across the UAE. Don’t forget to check out the sales items on the website for a bargain. It offers free delivery in Dubai.
DUBIZZLE
dubizzle is another online marketplace to buy or sell affordable, second-hand books in Dubai. Their inventory includes textbooks, children’s books, fiction/non-fiction, e-books and a whole lot more! You can look for the ads available on dubizzle to make a purchase.
FAQS ABOUT CHEAP BOOKSHOPS IN DUBAI AND MORE
WHERE CAN I BUY CHEAP BOOKS IN DUBAI ONLINE?
If you fancy buying books online in Dubai, you could look out for interesting deals on the websites of Kinokuniya, Magrudy’s and Borders.
WHERE TO BUY SECOND-HAND BOOKS IN DUBAI?
House of Prose, Bookends.ae and Dubizzle are famous for having highly discounted offers for anyone on the lookout for places to buy cheap books in Dubai.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR COMIC BOOKSTORES IN DUBAI?
Geek Nation, Virgin Megastore and Comicave are some of the most popular comic bookstores in Dubai.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST BOOKSTORES IN DUBAI?
Kinokuniya, Magrudy’s and Borders are amongst the top bookstores in Dubai.
That brings an end to our list of places to buy low-priced books in Dubai. In addition to these, there are often pop-up bookstores in Dubai at community centres in Mudon, Arabian Ranches, Mirdif and other family-friendly communities, where you can find a real bargain. Literature Festivals in Dubai and Sharjah are also great places to buy books on the cheap.
Aside from bookshops, you can also access these libraries for second-hand books in Dubai. Now that you have a huge collection of books, why not check out our home improvement tips to creatively organise your bookshelves.
