• Taking place from Thursday until April 24, the Big Bad Wolf Books sale is being held at the Sound Stages in Dubai Studio City. All Photos: Antonie Robertson / The National
    Taking place from Thursday until April 24, the Big Bad Wolf Books sale is being held at the Sound Stages in Dubai Studio City. All Photos: Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The event returns to Dubai after a two-year disruption owing to the pandemic.
    The event returns to Dubai after a two-year disruption owing to the pandemic.
  • Stocked books cover a number of genres, topics and age groups.
    Stocked books cover a number of genres, topics and age groups.
  • The sale is free to enter.
    The sale is free to enter.
  • The event is taking place in partnership with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.
    The event is taking place in partnership with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.
  • Founded in Malaysia in 2009, the Big Bad Wolf Books sale has visited more than a dozen countries so far.
    Founded in Malaysia in 2009, the Big Bad Wolf Books sale has visited more than a dozen countries so far.
  • Big Bad Wolf Books first came to the UAE in 2018, and has proved hugely popular since then.
    Big Bad Wolf Books first came to the UAE in 2018, and has proved hugely popular since then.
  • The sale is taking place during Ramadan for the third time.
    The sale is taking place during Ramadan for the third time.
  • Books are selling for between 50 per cent and 80 per cent less than the recommended retail price.
    Books are selling for between 50 per cent and 80 per cent less than the recommended retail price.
  • Co-founder Andrew Yap said the organisers’ vision has always been to cultivate the next generation of readers.
    Co-founder Andrew Yap said the organisers’ vision has always been to cultivate the next generation of readers.
  • The sale will be open daily from 10am until 2am.
    The sale will be open daily from 10am until 2am.
  • The Big Bad Wolf Books sale has visited Pakistan, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and the UAE.
    The Big Bad Wolf Books sale has visited Pakistan, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and the UAE.
  • Visitors will find books on topics such as business, art and design and food, among many others.
    Visitors will find books on topics such as business, art and design and food, among many others.
  • The sale includes more than a million books spanning several genres.
    The sale includes more than a million books spanning several genres.
  • A healthy crowd gathered at Sound Stages in Dubai Studio City for the opening day of the Big Bad Wolf Books sale.
    A healthy crowd gathered at Sound Stages in Dubai Studio City for the opening day of the Big Bad Wolf Books sale.
  • The scale of the Dubai event underscores its reputation as the world’s biggest book sale.
    The scale of the Dubai event underscores its reputation as the world’s biggest book sale.
  • The event returns following a virtual sale held in association with the Sharjah Book Authority in 2021.
    The event returns following a virtual sale held in association with the Sharjah Book Authority in 2021.
  • People were enthusiastic about the sale's return on opening day.
    People were enthusiastic about the sale's return on opening day.

Culture

Books

Dubai's Big Bad Wolf Books now open for 24 hours owing to popular demand

The sale has returned at the Sound Stages in Dubai Studio City after a two-year hiatus

Razmig Bedirian
Razmig Bedirian

April 21, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Big Bad Wolf Books will now be open round the clock.

Reputed to be the world’s biggest book sale, the event has returned to Dubai after a coronavirus pandemic-imposed two-year hiatus and is running until Sunday at the Sound Stages in Dubai Studio City.

The sale is held in partnership with Dubai Culture and has brought more than one million books, which are being sold for 50 per cent to 80 per cent less than the recommended retail price.

Books are being sold for 50 per cent to 80 per cent less than the recommended retail price. Photo: Antonie Robertson / The National
Books are being sold for 50 per cent to 80 per cent less than the recommended retail price. Photo: Antonie Robertson / The National

“We have received a phenomenal response so far. It is amazing to see book lovers visiting the book sale in large numbers, carefully sorting through to find the best bargains for themselves and their loved ones,” said Andrew Yap, co-founder of Big Bad Wolf Books.

“16 hours were just not enough. This makes it the first event in the region to run round the clock post-pandemic.”

Big Bad Wolf Books first came to the UAE in 2018, and has proved hugely popular since then. It is taking place during Ramadan for the third time.

Yap said the organisers’ vision has always been to cultivate the next generation of readers "to ignite their imagination to stimulate creative thinking and, more importantly, empower the future generation to believe and dream big by poring through the pages of a book and being inspired."

“We returned to Dubai after a hiatus of two years and we are overwhelmed to see the response we are receiving from the first day itself,” he said. “Staying open for 24 hours offers more flexibility to our visitors. The surge of visitors we have witnessed so far reinforces my belief that reading is still something that interests both children and adults. I am confident that the new timings will allow passionate readers to fuel their love for reading.”

There are several competitions running throughout the 11-day event which visitors can get involved in to stand a chance to win an entire shelf full of books. Five lucky people will also win Dh200 vouchers by posting pictures about their purchases using the hashtag #BBWBookHaul.

More information about Big Bad Wolf Books in the UAE is available at instagram.com/bigbadwolfbooks_UAE

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Updated: April 21, 2022, 9:00 AM
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