With over 45,000 books, this shop stocks a huge range of used fiction and non-fiction, along with hundreds of magazines. The packed store operates a pile-them-high-and-
sell-them-cheap policy. Everything from gluts of Ian Rankin to the odd Khaled Hosseini is available and little is priced at more than Dhs25. As a business model it is less successful (‘we barely make enough to cover the electricity,’ admits the jovial owner), but this is a labour of love and a dream for leaf-lovers.

The downstairs is dominated by fiction and children’s books, which are well organised on giant bookcases that slide back to reveal yet more delights. There is also a good collection of computer and cookery books (all of which are a steal), a few X-Men and DC comics (Dhs4-12) and even a handful of collectors’ items and out-of-print local history books. Upstairs you’ll find pretty much every National Geographic ever put to press (Dhs4-6), plus a range of top-quality encyclopedias (Dhs250-1,200) and engineering books. The shop also buys second-hand books, but is justifiably choosy due to space limitations. The store is not a dumping ground, so you will find some real gems.