Jim Smith

I was surprised to read last week that Magrudy's, here in Dubai, have pulled out from both The City Centre and Dubai Mall. Large rent increase were quoted as the reason.

I wonder if it is the rent or the changing book selling conditions in the market whereby elctronic delivery has passed the 50% mark in the USA. Or perhaps a combination of both?

Nothing like a real book in your hands, I say!!

Spugsy

I agree, I'd truly hate to read books on an ipad or a kindle.

That japanese bookshop in Dubai Mall is pretty great though.

MAcGrudys are good, borders is a bit shit mind.

Norm_uk

I'm surprised to hear that Malls in Dubai are raising their rents given the market conditions - and more surprised to hear a recognised brand like Magrudy's can't pay the rent.

I read mostly online now (or via audiobook on my ipod) but that is purely because of time constraints and the practical advantage of not having to lug heavy books with me everywhere but I prefer a real book.

I think most people in the UAE don't really read that much (at least not the Arabic population) - I just got back from China and there are bookshops everywhere with mandarin authored books and plenty of good international translations on all subjects. Compare this to the translations into Arabic in bookshops here? I don't actually recall seeing any books translated in the Arabic section - only Koran books and stuff about the Sheikhs.

N.

Millhouse

Have you tried? I thought the same but actually really like the Kindle.

shiva

love reading on the ipad now want a kindle as well. never thought i would but you get used to it surprisingly quickly.

magrudys is not great so not surprised they are moving, borders has filed for bankruptcy in the us so it looks like it will be kinokuniya only for us soon.
no great loss as thats a brilliant bookshop

Spugsy

Nope, I'm old school when it comes to that - it's a book or nothing for me.

Madam Medusa

hardly surprising magrudy's have pulled out of dubai mall, their store was tiny, and out of the way on the bottom floor (incidentally, they have also closed their small concession in my spinneys)...they sell lots more than just books, so not sure it's an indication of the state of the book market, although the competition from kinokuniya in dubai mall is huge, it knocks the spots off any other book shop i've been in...

must say, the jumeirah branch is very good though and usually pretty busy so they must be doing ok...they just celebrated 35 years in the region, that is good going, so i hope they don't fold...

MM, xx

Ethos83

I want to support Magrudy's. Really, I do, even from the bottom of my cold capitalist heart as I have a special spot for bookstores.

But not only is Kinokuniya offering a much larger and better selection of books it's also noticeably cheaper. Anywhere from 10-30% cheaper than Magrudy's for the same book.

Meow

I would guess that the problem with many book stores in the UAE is the prices. Books are expensive, so many people are reluctant to spent the equivalent of GBP 10 for a paperback novel that they could have bought for GBP 5 in the UK.

There are also loads of second hand booksales so unless you are after new releases you can pick up novels for next to nothing.

Jim Smith

[ I just got back from China and there are bookshops everywhere with mandarin authored books and plenty of good international translations on all subjects.

I agree, found Beijing around Wangfujin (Sp?) Street especially good! Shanghai also.

Spugsy

Books aren't cheap over here are they? I used to get 3 for a tenner at Waterstones back in the toon.

Autonomy

I am a huge book fan and never thought I'd like the switch - but I love reading on the iPad plus I can order a book from Amazon UK and be reading it in seconds for only a few quid instead of waiting 3 weeks for the book or taking a trip to a Dubai store knowing that they probably will not have the book I wanted anyway...

and on the death of book stores - this is quite interesting http://www.quora.com/Borders-Books/W...hed-bankruptcy

kittycat1

I love books and am a little bit precious over them- can't stand to see someone crease the spine of a book and folding edges over- urgh! it drives me crazy!- All of my books are in storage in the Uk (one of the few things I kept) and have started to buy a few here- its a real shame book shops are struggling in the same way music shops are- I miss the days of vinyl, but its a sign of the times I suppose! Borders on Oxford Street was an awesome bookshop- could get lost in there for days- that closed over a year ago though.

On the plus side- better for the enviroment I guess and makes it easier for people to get published.

I can't iamgine reading to my nephews from an ipad though, and you can't beat a good pop up book- 3d ipads I guess!

Ethos83

My precocious godson is already telling his parents: "Daddy, please download the story/movie/programme."

He's not quite four.

Tis a different generation.

flares

Went to a cracking bookshop off Orchard Rd, Singapore last year. It may have even been a Kino-whatsitsface.

Most of our disposable goes in Magrudy's. My other half is probably single-handedly keeping the AD branch afloat.