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Dubai Tales A Collection of Short Stories
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Hardcover
First published January 1, 1990
About the author
Mohammad al Murr
2 books10 followersMohammad Ahmad Mohammad Al Murr Al Falasi (born 1955 in Dubai) is a short-story writer from the United Arab Emirates.
He has published over 15 volumes of short stories and has had two collections translated into English: Dubai Tales and The Wink of the Mona Lisa.
Al Murr graduated from Syracuse University in the United States, and has been a member of a number of UAE academic institutions and councils. He is the head of the Dubai Cultural Council, recently reorganized as the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.
In 2011 Al Murr was appointed to the Federal National Council's 15th Chapter as a representative of the Emirate of Dubai, and elected uncontested as Speaker. He served as the speaker from 2011 to 2015.
He has published over 15 volumes of short stories and has had two collections translated into English: Dubai Tales and The Wink of the Mona Lisa.
Al Murr graduated from Syracuse University in the United States, and has been a member of a number of UAE academic institutions and councils. He is the head of the Dubai Cultural Council, recently reorganized as the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.
In 2011 Al Murr was appointed to the Federal National Council's 15th Chapter as a representative of the Emirate of Dubai, and elected uncontested as Speaker. He served as the speaker from 2011 to 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 17, 2020
Before starting the book, I was afraid the Author would sugar coat the tales of the society in Dubai, leaving out all its flaws and focusing and beautifying Dubai, However what I got was the total opposite, The 24 short story collections were filled with all the bad and imperfections of Dubai's society of which focuses on the ugly behaviors of betrayal, cheating and much more.
Firstly, As I said earlier, I am not here to ask for a sugar coated story, rather just a balanced view of the Society in Dubai, If I had to re-write this title it would be " The Wrong side of Dubai: Society's hidden imperfections", instead of Dubai Tales!
Secondly, most of his stories are left almost always in an open ended style, giving the reader much time to think about what the Author said and always left it for the reader to interpret; I was okay with it until I reached the 3rd story and realize that perhaps it started to get really annoying!
Thirdly, The whole book is just focuses on family and marriage imperfections and perhaps the only thing that really is considered to be a Dubai tale is the setting of the book. I was expecting other stories regarding the hardships of our fathers, and I will say this again, I am aware of all these problems but I know there are men who love their wives, fathers who worked hard while maintain his religion. The sotries were just began getting predictable by the next.
Now Looking at the good points of the story, The stories though some predictable, all shared a good common sense of humor sometimes, although it touched on heavy subjects Al Murr tried to ease off the big society problems in his witty style.
Secondly, I do have to give credit to Gabriel Clark for managing to actually translate these stories in a very well preserved manner, which still maintain the colloquial feel to the stories (which I believe is quite difficult).
While I admit that perhaps I did enjoy some stories, I would have liked it more if there was a more balanced view of Dubai's Society because all I believe al Murr achieved is proving the stereotypical view of the Arab men and even woman.
Firstly, As I said earlier, I am not here to ask for a sugar coated story, rather just a balanced view of the Society in Dubai, If I had to re-write this title it would be " The Wrong side of Dubai: Society's hidden imperfections", instead of Dubai Tales!
Secondly, most of his stories are left almost always in an open ended style, giving the reader much time to think about what the Author said and always left it for the reader to interpret; I was okay with it until I reached the 3rd story and realize that perhaps it started to get really annoying!
Thirdly, The whole book is just focuses on family and marriage imperfections and perhaps the only thing that really is considered to be a Dubai tale is the setting of the book. I was expecting other stories regarding the hardships of our fathers, and I will say this again, I am aware of all these problems but I know there are men who love their wives, fathers who worked hard while maintain his religion. The sotries were just began getting predictable by the next.
Now Looking at the good points of the story, The stories though some predictable, all shared a good common sense of humor sometimes, although it touched on heavy subjects Al Murr tried to ease off the big society problems in his witty style.
Secondly, I do have to give credit to Gabriel Clark for managing to actually translate these stories in a very well preserved manner, which still maintain the colloquial feel to the stories (which I believe is quite difficult).
While I admit that perhaps I did enjoy some stories, I would have liked it more if there was a more balanced view of Dubai's Society because all I believe al Murr achieved is proving the stereotypical view of the Arab men and even woman.
September 15, 2025
Mildly interesting short stories with twist endings. The characters do come from all walks of life and encounter all sorts of difficulty (prized pigeons are stolen, women marry men they don't love, a trumpet player broods over business plans) but usually the plot twists are simple misunderstandings or something not working out, like a talking parrot being harmed before it can be purchased... occasionally they're crimes.
The stories are easily digestible and a quick read, facilitated by a smooth writing style.
The stories are easily digestible and a quick read, facilitated by a smooth writing style.
March 8, 2026
I enjoyed the collection of well written stories about Dubai - which I was visiting for the first time. I was surprised the extent of affairs - both married men and women were having.
April 12, 2017
A collection of short stories about family, love and relationships all set in and around Dubai.
I can’t remember the last time I read a short stories collection, it’s generally not my thing but I did enjoy Dubai Tales. They were often about five or six pages long with only a couple being closer to ten pages. Such short stories allow the author to build up your expectations in a story and then completely turn them around. These abrupt endings are often funny but some of them left me wanting more – though I feel that could be said for most short stories.
The stories in Dubai Tales are often quite mundane, about people’s everyday lives and their relationships until the last few lines and the whole story turns on its head. The stories are quite clever and funny, there’s humour in the ridiculous of the situations some of these characters get themselves into. The stories often subvert what you think traditional marriages or relationships are like in Dubai which is quite nice. There’s loving relationships, those which have their secrets and those you think are marriages but aren’t.
If you’re interested into snapshots of life in Dubai and the people who live there then Dubai Tales is a great read. It has information on the geographical location of Dubai such as where it is in relation to the capital of the UAE Abu Dhabi as well as the different suburbs of Dubai and it has a glossary which is a nice touch.
I can’t remember the last time I read a short stories collection, it’s generally not my thing but I did enjoy Dubai Tales. They were often about five or six pages long with only a couple being closer to ten pages. Such short stories allow the author to build up your expectations in a story and then completely turn them around. These abrupt endings are often funny but some of them left me wanting more – though I feel that could be said for most short stories.
The stories in Dubai Tales are often quite mundane, about people’s everyday lives and their relationships until the last few lines and the whole story turns on its head. The stories are quite clever and funny, there’s humour in the ridiculous of the situations some of these characters get themselves into. The stories often subvert what you think traditional marriages or relationships are like in Dubai which is quite nice. There’s loving relationships, those which have their secrets and those you think are marriages but aren’t.
If you’re interested into snapshots of life in Dubai and the people who live there then Dubai Tales is a great read. It has information on the geographical location of Dubai such as where it is in relation to the capital of the UAE Abu Dhabi as well as the different suburbs of Dubai and it has a glossary which is a nice touch.
November 13, 2009
There's a level of disconnect between the literary traditions of Europe and the Middle East. These stories are 'Arabic' in the sense that the written text follows the style of a longstanding oral tradition (whereas contemporary short stories in the 'West' have evolved to emphasize the written word/text/form).
The narrator's point of view determines the voice and tone of Murr's stories - all except for the last one, which stands out from the rest of the collection for it first person point of view and introspective tone (and is thus more 'familiar' in style as a 'short story').
Even though this oral tradition is one I am familiar with, still I was unable to suspend my critical judgment, and so I found fault with the repetitive ironic twists saved for the final lines of each story. These last minute plot reversals (or rather, the withholding of a truth by the narrator till the concluding moment) underscored a didactic tone that I found unnervingly reminiscent of fables and other moral tales.
The narrator's point of view determines the voice and tone of Murr's stories - all except for the last one, which stands out from the rest of the collection for it first person point of view and introspective tone (and is thus more 'familiar' in style as a 'short story').
Even though this oral tradition is one I am familiar with, still I was unable to suspend my critical judgment, and so I found fault with the repetitive ironic twists saved for the final lines of each story. These last minute plot reversals (or rather, the withholding of a truth by the narrator till the concluding moment) underscored a didactic tone that I found unnervingly reminiscent of fables and other moral tales.
January 18, 2017
This book surprises by lifting a veil from what many people consider to be a conservative society or one in which only men tend to have their ways. With this said, many of the major topics touched upon in the book are not deal with on all the social and religious dimensions expected and therefore an international reader cannot build a full rounded picture of life in the UAE.
A note: These somewhat controversial short stories have been selected from the author's more than 12 books out which only one other has been translated to English.
A note: These somewhat controversial short stories have been selected from the author's more than 12 books out which only one other has been translated to English.
May 19, 2012
This was really good. I liked the twists and unexpected endings. Definitely written from a man's perspective and gives a bit of depressing insight into the way of thinking in this region.
(Date read is approximate. It was while I was in Dubai).
(Date read is approximate. It was while I was in Dubai).
September 17, 2009
I loved all and each one of these 21 short stories.
(it's a bookring / bookcrossing)
(it's a bookring / bookcrossing)
April 7, 2018
i loved all the stories and i wish to read more books from this author
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews