Prime Highlights:
- Isobel Abulhoul, a leading literary figure in the UAE, has curated the Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts Library (ADREA), combining her lifelong passions for books and horses.
- The library is the first in the Middle East and North Africa dedicated entirely to horses, preserving and sharing Arab equestrian heritage for all generations.
Key Facts:
- ADREA houses over 14,000 books on equestrian subjects, including horse history, breeding, riding, veterinary care, and traditional saddlery.
- The library features a children’s and youth section to encourage young readers to learn about horses and develop a love for reading.
Background:
A new cultural place has opened in Abu Dhabi to celebrate the region’s love for horses. The Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts Library (ADREA) has opened, becoming the first library in the Middle East and North Africa dedicated solely to horses and horse-related knowledge.
The library features a collection of more than 14,000 books covering subjects such as horse history, breeding, veterinary care, polo, racing, dressage, show jumping, training and traditional saddlery. It is intended to support researchers, riders and anyone with an interest in horses.
Curated by renowned literary figure Isobel Abulhoul, the ADREA Library brings together centuries of horsemanship and written scholarship under one roof. Abulhoul, who has spent over five decades contributing to the UAE’s cultural and literary landscape, said the library reflects both historical depth and emotional legacy tied to horses.
The books are mainly in Arabic and English, with some in Spanish and Portuguese, including titles about the Spanish Riding School. Several rare and out-of-print volumes were sourced from across the world. All books are fully catalogued using the Dewey system, and members can borrow titles through a specialized digital system.
The library includes a kids’ area to encourage learning about horses and enjoying books. This effort supports the wider goal of passing Emirati cultural values to future generations.
Isobel Abulhoul, who co-founded Magrudy’s Bookshop and the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, said curating the library was a personal milestone that combines her lifelong passions for books and horses.
In the future, the ADREA Library plans to grow its collection based on what readers want and community needs, keeping the tradition of Arabian horsemanship alive for generations to come.
