London S Leading Arab Bookshop Al Saqi Set To Close After 44 Years As lebanon’s civil war raged in the 1980’s, a former music hall in london adorned with shakespearian busts across its façade became a safe space for the arab world’s free thinkers. Al saqi books, beleaguered by the pandemic lockdowns, flash flooding, disrupted supply chains and the cost of living crisis, is to bring the shutters down on its westbourne grove shopfront for the last time after 44 years.
Al Saqi Book Store England Location Map About More The bookshop became a leading light of multicultural london during the 1980s, known for procuring books banned across the arab world. today, al saqi books remains a treasure trove for readers from all walks of life. andré and mai began publishing english language works as saqi books in 1983. London al saqi bookshop is housed in a conspicuous building in london’s bayswater district. with colonnades and arches topped by 11 staring busts, its architecture recalls ruins that are found across europe, north africa and the middle east. Over the ensuing four decades, the bookshop became a leading light not only for arab expatriates in the uk and europe, but also for arab visitors keen to obtain books banned in their own countries. Established in 1978 as the first arabic bookstore in london, al saqi books represented a treasure trove of literary works for arab expatriates living in the city and across europe.
Looking Back At Al Saqi London S Finest Arabic Language Bookshop The Over the ensuing four decades, the bookshop became a leading light not only for arab expatriates in the uk and europe, but also for arab visitors keen to obtain books banned in their own countries. Established in 1978 as the first arabic bookstore in london, al saqi books represented a treasure trove of literary works for arab expatriates living in the city and across europe. Established in 1978 as the first arabic bookstore in london, al saqi books represented a treasure trove of literary works for arab expatriates living in the city and across europe. Al saqi was the first arab bookstore i entered where islam was not front and center. run by women, the bookshop revealed a diverse, dissident and culturally lively middle east. Our bookshop on westbourne grove has been the beating heart of the arab community in london since 1979. there is still a flutter of excitement when new books arrive from beirut and our regular customers know when best to come browse our new arrivals. Al saqi has been a favourite of london's arab diaspora since 1978 (mee nadda osman) the iconic voice of egyptian singer umm kulthum could be heard gently playing in the background as.
Al Saqi Books To Close Established in 1978 as the first arabic bookstore in london, al saqi books represented a treasure trove of literary works for arab expatriates living in the city and across europe. Al saqi was the first arab bookstore i entered where islam was not front and center. run by women, the bookshop revealed a diverse, dissident and culturally lively middle east. Our bookshop on westbourne grove has been the beating heart of the arab community in london since 1979. there is still a flutter of excitement when new books arrive from beirut and our regular customers know when best to come browse our new arrivals. Al saqi has been a favourite of london's arab diaspora since 1978 (mee nadda osman) the iconic voice of egyptian singer umm kulthum could be heard gently playing in the background as.