How Magrudi’s bookstore put the UAE on the literary map nearly 50 years ago

A celebration was held this week for an Emirati cultural institution.

Magrudy’s, a home-grown brand that has become synonymous with children’s literature and educational toys, celebrated its 47th anniversary on Wednesday at its Jumeirah outlet in typically understated fashion.

Go with the flow is co-founder Isabel Abuhurthey exchanged memories and reflections on the growth of a humble store into a market leader and, in the process, helping put the UAE on the global literary map.

At Magrudy’s, some of the first reading groups in the country were formed, and the first international authors were invited to read and discuss, including the celebrated Brazilian author Paulo Coelho in 2005.

along with Abu Dhabi and Sharjah International Book Fair — launched in 1981 and 1982 — focused on trade at the time, it was the author’s conferences and meetups at Magrudy that sowed what would become Emirates Aviation Literature Festival.

Then again, these groundbreaking achievements were a far cry from what Abulhoul originally envisioned.

in previous interviews the whole countryshe describes the opening of Magrudy’s first store in Dubai’s Sharjah Road in 1975 as necessary, and the co-founding of Al Ittihad Private School in Dubai that same year.

“I had absolutely no retail experience,” she said.

“I didn’t even think about it. I had two young kids when we opened the school, so I cared a lot about education.

“Once we opened the school, I started thinking about how we needed a place where families could get books and educational toys, so we started Magrudy’s.”

Abulhoul only needs to close his eyes to see photos of the first Magrudy’s store snapping back – but the brand eventually expanded to 15 locations, including Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

“There’s plenty of space and lots of [of items] At child’s eye level. Around the walls, above the shelves, are large murals of cartoon creatures — whether it’s a crocodile or a bear — forming a collage that everyone will love,” she says.

“It was full of the kind of toys that were considered good toys in 1975 – so, of course, we had Lego and Playmobil. We had a working steam engine, believed in scientific thinking, lots of wooden toys, a rocking horse, Lots of games like snakes and ladders and chess.

“This is only the beginning of the store, as in the back there are shelves of children’s books, from the classics to books picked from the catalogs sent out by publishers.”

Magrudi shrewdly chooses titles ranging from bestsellers to non-fiction and teaching guides, which is why it is so prestigious.

Specialization in children’s literature and family ethos makes Magrudy the first bookstore chain in the UAE to carry JK Rowling’s 1997 debut novel Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone for Motherland.

“I knew it was the start of something when two of my kids discovered this book on our holiday to Cambridge. They were so enthralled I had to buy them each a separate copy because they couldn’t share,” she said.

“When I got back to Dubai, I immediately imported more copies into the store and we ended up selling about 5,000 copies. We kept ordering books to meet demand.”

While Magrudy’s continues to stock literary blockbusters, it’s arguably making its biggest impact in the educational arena.

The brand expansion includes two campus bookstores, one at NYU Abu Dhabi and the other at Abu Dhabi Khalifa University.

Interactions with these students, and with the adults who have grown up visiting this cave of Aladdin’s imagination over the past forty years, give Abulhoul the greatest satisfaction.

“There’s nothing better than meeting the kids who brought their families to us decades ago,” she said.

“They are now bringing their own children to enjoy the services we provide.”

Scroll through the gallery below to see photos from the 2022 Emirates Aviation Festival of Literature

Updated: November 18, 2022, 6:59pm