Today's Edition
ASILA AL BADI (ABU DHABI)
No other space in the region explores the story and history of horsemanship quite like the Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts (ADREA) Library. More than a place of learning and discovery, it has been considered a living archive of equestrian knowledge and tradition. And entrusted with curating and safeguarding its collection of books, archives, and stories is one of the UAE’s most respected literary figures: Isobel Abulhoul.
Through vision and persistence, Abulhoul has played a pivotal role in shaping the UAE’s literary landscape. She is the founder of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, co-founder of Magrudy’s Bookshop – a pioneer of the country’s literary scene since 1975 – and CEO and Trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation. She also serves as a trustee of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction and a board member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library.
Her contributions to literacy and culture have been recognised with numerous honours, including an OBE, Cultural Personality of the Year and the UAE Pioneers Award.
Now, the distinguished cultural leader is stepping into a new chapter: curating the ADREA Library, one of the world’s largest equestrian libraries and a space devoted for knowledge, research and cultural heritage.
Abulhoul’s work has always been guided by a core belief: that reading shapes how communities understand their heritage and their place in the world. Curating the ADREA Library is a natural extension of that mission, she told Aletihad in an interview.
“Horses are deeply woven into the cultural, historical and emotional fabric of the UAE. By building a world-class library dedicated to equestrian knowledge, we are not only preserving a vital part of our heritage – we are inviting people to read, learn and connect with a tradition that has shaped our region for centuries,” she said.
Home to more than 14,000 equine-focused books, alongside rare archival materials, a UAE collection, and a dedicated children’s section, the ADREA Library aims to become a global destination for equestrian knowledge and a community space that combines history, identity and storytelling.
For Abulhoul, literature cannot be separated from the culture. When a community sees its identity mirrored in books, it reads “more deeply and more meaningfully”, she said.
In a country where horsemanship is closely tied to identity, equestrian literature carries generational significance.
“Equestrian literature is a living archive,” Abulhoul said. “It captures the values, knowledge and stories that have defined entire civilisations.”
In the UAE, the horse has long symbolised courage, loyalty, endurance and beauty; its presence is woven into poetry, folklore and storytelling traditions. Preserving these narratives ensures that future generations remain connected to the land and the Bedouin ethos that shaped earlier societies, Abulhoul said.
A Research Hub, A Cultural Space
Abulhoul sees the ADREA Library as a key addition to the UAE’s cultural ecosystem, one that strengthens both heritage preservation and knowledge exchange.
She outlined four key roles the library plays. As a research hub, it provides scholars, veterinarians and trainers with unprecedented resources. As a cultural space, it offers exhibitions and rare manuscripts that deepen public understanding. As an educational centre, it engages young people through storytelling, workshops and school collaborations. And as a global connector, it positions the UAE as a destination for equestrian scholarship and international partnerships.
“In a country committed to knowledge, innovation and cultural continuity, the ADREA Library becomes an anchor – a place where passion meets learning,” Abulhoul said.
Abulhoul credits ADREA’s culture and programming team with developing initiatives that make the library accessible to all audiences. These include children’s storytelling sessions, book clubs, expert-led workshops, author talks, bilingual resources and digital archives.
“A library thrives when it becomes a place of encounter between generations, cultures and disciplines.”
Honouring Heritage
Through its books and publications, the ADREA Library transports visitors into the many worlds shaped by a love of horses, from training and veterinary science to equestrian art, ethics, global cultures, philosophy and rare archival treasures. Behind this expansive collection lies a twofold vision, Abulhoul explained.
“On one hand, we wanted to gather the best scholarship and historical works relating to horses. On the other, we wanted a collection that speaks to every dimension of equestrian life… A library becomes powerful when readers can explore a subject from many angles.”
This breadth, she added, allows both researchers and young readers to discover equestrian heritage in new and meaningful ways.
Living Her Passion
While leading high-impact global literacy programmes is second nature to Abulhoul, curating the region’s first all-equestrian library has been particularly meaningful, she said.
“This role feels like a culmination of many strands of my life: literacy, culture, heritage and community building – and a deep love of horses.”
She described the opportunity as both an honour and a responsibility, praising the close collaboration with ADREA’s team and designers in shaping what she called a “uniquely special” space.
Asked what she hopes visitors experience when they step into the ADREA Library, Abulhoul offered a simple yet evocative response: “I hope they feel a sense of wonder – a world where history, beauty and knowledge come together.”
She hopes guests leave feeling welcomed, inspired and connected to something timeless.
“A great library doesn’t just house books; it invites people into a relationship with ideas, with heritage, and with themselves.”
