Sometimes the nicest way to spend an hour is simply sitting somewhere calm with a book. No notifications, no pressure to socialize; just a quiet moment to read. And since March is officially celebrated as the Month of Reading in the UAE, it’s a good moment to notice some of the local reading communities.
One of the most appealing formats is Silent Book Club. The community started years ago and has gradually grown into a global network with local clubs in more than 60 countries.
For readers in the UAE, there are currently two Silent Book Club communities you can join: one in Dubai (@silentbookdubai) and another in Abu Dhabi (@silentbookclubad).
Instead of one title for everyone to read, the participants can bring whatever book they’re currently reading and spend some time alongside other people. Meetups usually take place in cafés, parks, or other calm spaces.
Alongside these international chapters, a few local communities have also started building their own reading circles.
One of them is The 100 Page Club (@the100pageclub), a women-only reading group in Dubai. It began with a small meetup in 2025 and has slowly grown through regular gatherings and quiet reading sessions. For those planning to join, the group’s current read is The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali.
Another community, Read Between The Lines (@rbtl.bookclub), also located in Dubai. Since their first event in 2025, they’ve been organizing meetups in cafés and community spaces around the city. On average, they host two gatherings each month with silent reading sessions.
If you enjoy discovering supportive and cozy communities, these book clubs in Dubai or Abu Dhabi might be worth keeping in mind for a calm afternoon someday. And if the idea of setting aside time for books resonates with you, take a look at the article Why Reading Matters in the Modern World: 5 Reasons to Pick Up a Book Instead of Your Phone.
The idea can work just as well at home. A small reading gathering with friends, family, or even neighbours is easy to arrange. Pick a comfortable place, put the phones away for a while, and spend some quiet time reading together.
