UAE Good Readers discussion
Best Bookstores in UAE
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Rachel
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Apr 02, 2011 03:57AM
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Kinokuniya in Dubai Mall. I found couple of books there which I could not find it anywhere else in Dubai. The next best place is buying it online.
Umm..I really like Magrudy's...I really like that store, but still Kinokuniya in Dubai Mall is great!
*Love Kinokuniya; has a variety choices*Jarir Bookstore; didn't go to it but most of the books I like can be easily found there :(
*Magrudy's; the one I visit mostly :)
I think they are the main big bookstores in UAE.
Virgin have some great titles on display these days and can order any book within two weeks (usually takes far less)... Kino is a huge book supermarket but the staff don't know anything about their products and couldn't make a recommendation to save their lives. Borders is soulless, tatty and has some really bizarre omissions. That's my unbiased opinion!
kinokuniya dubai mall is definitely the best and has the biggest collection of books
http://www.bookdepository.com/upside - most of the books costs less and free worldwide delivery
downside - takes two weeks to deliver
oops! just realized that the discussion is about bookstores in UAE :)
Kinokuniya wins hands down; its like a second home to me, since i found some books which i couldn't find anywhere else in Dubai.
Jashanmal was my go-to in Abu Dhabi Mall. Magrudys is a pleasure but costly.
مكتبة المجرودي مكتبة المكتبه
دار السعادة
دار الكتاب الجامعي
Of course Kinokuniya wins ♥ ♥ it's like a dream came true!and there is Magrudy, their staff are the best.
I did a little search for Kinokuniya online... I wasn't very successful! Could you point me in the right direction? Thanks :)
Thanks...Aaaah... I kinda meant the right direction in terms of finding good information online. The Dubai Mall site was lacklustre.
Thanks anyway :)
I spoke to Kino in April 2010 about their online plans. They said "we have a strategy".
It's obviously a bloody long-term strategy.
It's obviously a bloody long-term strategy.
Anyway, Virgin have the best buying team!
@ Nadine The bookstore cum computer stationary store is called Jarir. it is a Saudi chain. I totally agree that they have some good books, but you have to schlep it over there and they always close for lunch for about 3 hours. :-( If only their staff were a bit more helpful and better over the phone, it would be better!The kids' bookstore is called Bookworm and they are awesome! They will be having Book day next Saturday (I think) giving one Roald Dahl book away per child. My kids can't wait. You can call 02 6354985.
I found a bookstore at the Marina Mall. Can't remember the name of it and I didn't find the current title we are reading for book group but it was bigger than Magrudy's. I would like to find that one at Al Meena. I want to go out and buy plants anyway, might as well make it both plants and books.
What about online? What's the best way to buy online and have them shipped here? I'm from the U.S. and have one of those ship and save (aramax) accounts but that is not exactly a cheap way to get books. I also tried to search online through Kinokuniya and searching is still not there. I'm thinking of visiting them. My work buys books from them so maybe they'll listen to me.
What about online? What's the best way to buy online and have them shipped here? I'm from the U.S. and have one of those ship and save (aramax) accounts but that is not exactly a cheap way to get books. I also tried to search online through Kinokuniya and searching is still not there. I'm thinking of visiting them. My work buys books from them so maybe they'll listen to me.
The problems with setting up a transactional website to sell books online in the UAE are many, and i could spend all morning outlining them to you... Kino will not launch one any time soon, though they plan to launch a website next year run from singapore which won't sell books, just market them.
I think we should be combining the book and plant run with the cake run. So, a big shop for books, shrubs, and buns/doughnuts. Anybody with me on this important issue?
And let me just share this book trailer with you all, it's gorgeous:
http://virginbooks.wordpress.com/2011...
http://virginbooks.wordpress.com/2011...
@Kate>>What about online? What's the best way to buy online and have them shipped here?
I vote for amazon.. I think their shipping rate is reasonable specially when you order number of books together..
If you are using digital devices to read then there is kobo.com
@ KateBook Depository wins hands down :)
Free shipping world wide!
Do what I do and keep a wishlist with a record of prices. When prices are less; they 'should' send an email or you could log in regularly to check prices.
www.bookdepository.com
Are you a friend of Keiron, by any chance?
I didn't know book depository had free shipping. Thanks!
@ IainI have a cousin named Keiron but we lost touch years ago :)
Is the Keiron you refer to, a Book Depository hound, like me?
@Melissa Keiron Smith, the boss at the Book Dep. Nice bloke. Book Dep are, pending a review by OFT, going to merge with Amazon.
Kinokuniya is the best ever it has titles you cant find anywhere else and it is a very big library the prices are very good there as well and you can find the latest releases as well , if i dont find the book i want there then i would buy it online from the book depository they have great prices and free delivery international :)
There used to be a great bookstore here called book corner on diyafa street, sadly it closed tho :(. After that, yes Kinokuniya surely, but I still can't find most of the books I want there, so I order from magrudies as they take a shorter time to deliver than kino :P. And Ian, since you work at virgin, maybe try to get some non mainstream books every once in a while? And why are the books in virgin so expensive?!
Yaay I will be checking out book dep.! amazon charge around 200 dhs for shipping! its ridic
One very good source of second hand books is “House of Prose” located in Jumaira Plaza (Jumaira 1) near the petrol station. You can buy the book at very reasonable price and once you finish it you can sell it back to the same book shop at 50% of the purchase price !!
Believe me, my tastes are very much towards the non-mainstream, and we have ordered a lot of these titles in 2011, but sadly we've just not seen great sales for the more esoteric titles, and we're just a part of a big store so at the end of the day we have to give space to books we know will sell. However, the kinds of books now on offer are very different from what we had in place before and the range is improving every month. Have another look!
Some books look more expensive in Virgin because unlike, say, Borders, we aren't owned by a supermarket chain who can afford to sell most books at a financial loss. Other bookshops have different deals with publishers, and Kino obviously buy many books in greater quantities than we do to secure a greater discount, but we just buy realistic initial quantities and once they arrive in store it is up to our booksellers to place top-up orders if they think a book is going to sell well.
Hopefully the Book Depository (which is being taken over by Amazon) won't suddenly put its prices up...
@Muthanna I used to love House of Prose! I went there often when I worked at Magrudy's H/O. I never found out what happened to the huge goldfish in Jumaira Plaza...
Some books look more expensive in Virgin because unlike, say, Borders, we aren't owned by a supermarket chain who can afford to sell most books at a financial loss. Other bookshops have different deals with publishers, and Kino obviously buy many books in greater quantities than we do to secure a greater discount, but we just buy realistic initial quantities and once they arrive in store it is up to our booksellers to place top-up orders if they think a book is going to sell well.
Hopefully the Book Depository (which is being taken over by Amazon) won't suddenly put its prices up...
@Muthanna I used to love House of Prose! I went there often when I worked at Magrudy's H/O. I never found out what happened to the huge goldfish in Jumaira Plaza...
Actually, some of the books at the Book Depository a more expensive than Amazon, but I find that it's still cheaper compared to Amazon after adding the shippment. And they do have good customer service.Also, talking about local bookstores and prices, Borders is more expensive than Magrudy's and Kinokonya, and Kinokonya has the better stock than the rest.
I just buy from the Book Depository, lower prices than our bookstores and I can do it from hone :)
Unless I want to browse the shelves then Kinokonya!
@Iain same here no idea what happened to the goldfish :)
Ya, I noticed that Kino is the cheapest out of the lot, especially since they have multiple editions of one book.
Hey have you guys checked out www.dobazaar.com? They're an online bookstore that deliver to your house. I bought Casual Vacancy from them yesterday and got it delivered an hour ago! Good service and awesome collection of books.
Kinokuniya! There's a used-books bookstore in Deira (if I'm not mistaken) which is cool as well. You can borrow the book or opt to buy it. Online, Amazon and Book Depository!
There is one in Al Karama, Archies Library, they lend and also sell books. The best thing about it is that they have a huge collection of used books.
Kinokuniya!! you can also access their website and check whether the book you're looking for is available
Kinokouniya is my most fave as well! :D I could get lost there. I found the most rare gem there too... "Oh, the Places You'll Go" (Dr. Seuss) in hardbound. :D
Online shopping is the easiest. Try Book Falcons, we have all sorts of books, you will ever need :) Also, we are offering you 50 percent off on all audio books throughout March ! :D http://ow.ly/j8Pic Get your copy before the offer ends :)
Everyone, there's a bookstore called thrift book store that has extremely cheap prices for second hand books. this person covered it with a map too! and they have a huge collection! http://violetology.com/2012/02/18/whe...
I went to the Thrift Store yesterday for the first time! I did pick up a book on Polish food but didn't find any arab lit in translation. Will definitely return to look again.
The woman running the Thrift Store is going on vacation to India for a month. She said if you want to shop, you will need to contact the owner who will open it up for you. She returns May 1. Maybe they've come up with an alternative, though, and kept it open for April.
I wish they could open a Kinokouniya here. :(
*instead of buying new books why not rent books?to all AVID readers/BOOKWORMS:
READERS PARADISE ONLINE BOOK RENTAL
is an online book rental club that delivers books to your doorstep. When you're done reading, we will deliver new books to you and collect the old ones from you.
A GREAT WAY TO SAVE MONEY,EFFORT AND TRESS.
no hustle, no limited reading hours, no long drive, no due dates.
(all 15000+ books selection are in good condition)
kindly check our website:
http://readersparadise-me.com/
we deliver in these ares :
DELIVERY SCHEDULES:
Ajman – Tuesday & Saturday
Al Aweer – Monday & Friday
Al Barari – Monday & Friday
Al Barsha / Al Khail – Sunday & Thursday
Al Nahda/ Al Ghusais – Tuesday & Saturday
Arabian Ranches – Monday & Friday
Bur Dubai/ Karama – Tuesday & Saturday
Burj Downtown – Tuesday & Saturday
Deira – Tuesday & Saturday
Discovery Gardens – Sunday & Thursday
Emirates Hills – Sunday & Thursday
Greens/Tecom – Sunday & Thursday
International & Academic CIty – Monday & Friday
Internet City (Sufouh Rd) – Sunday & Thursday
JBR – Sunday & Thursday
Jebel Ali/Jafza – Sunday & Thursday
Jumeirah 1 / Satwa – Tuesday & Saturday
Jumeirah 2&3 (Al safa/Umm Suqueim) – Sunday & Thursday
Jumeirah Island & Village – Sunday & Thursday
Jumeirah Lake Towers – Sunday & Thursday
Knowledge Village – Sunday & Thursday
Lakes – Sunday & Thursday
Marina – Sunday & Thursday
Meadows – Sunday & Thursday
Mirdiff/ Nad Al Hamar – Tuesday & Saturday
Motor city – Monday & Friday
Palm Jumeirah – Sunday & Thursday
Sharjah – Tuesday & Saturday
Silicon Oasis – Monday & Friday
Springs – Sunday & Thursday
The Gardens – Sunday & Thursday
The Green Community (DIP) – Sunday & Thursday
(this post is intended to inform you that readers paradise exist in Dubai)
(we apologize for interrupting)
