Best Websites for Free Academic Resources in the UAE

Have you ever struggled to find the right academic resources? In the past, students had to invest a lot of money in buying books, journals, or other study materials. Besides that, access was not always easy, especially for learners who cannot afford an expensive subscription.

Thankfully, things have changed. With the rise of technology, you don’t even need to leave your home to access reliable study sources. Because many organizations and institutions now offer free academic resources online platforms. These platforms provide access to research papers, articles, and even relevant courses.

Lastly, there are countless online options available, but many of these options come with hidden charges or require a subscription. But don’t worry, we have sorted out the 10 best online platforms for free academic resources in the UAE. Whether you are a student or a lifelong learner, you can use these platforms absolutely free.

10 best online platforms for free academic resources in the UAE

List of online libraries in the UAE

Maktaba

1. Maktaba library is based in Abu Dhabi.
2. It was established by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, which is responsible for the administration of public libraries in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, it provides a diverse program of educational events and activities for the local community.
3. Readers will find a large collection of books, including Arabic books, English fiction and non-fiction novels, e-books, articles, and videos on different subjects. Moreover, readers can access all these resources absolutely free.

British Council Library

1. The British Council has formed a free online library in the UAE.
2. The main goal behind this initiative is to provide readers in the region with free academic resources and to promote reading habits among young people.
3. The British Council library in the UAE provides readers access to various sources like e-books, videos, audio books, documentaries, etc. Furthermore, users of this library also get access to e-magazines, newspapers, and different educational content.

Abu Dhabi Children’s Library

1. Abu Dhabi children’s library is for children between 0 and 14 years of age.
2. The library has a large collection of books, including fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, autobiographies, and audiobooks.
3. Furthermore, you can access their online sources as well.

Dubai Digital Library

1. Muhammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation launched the Dubai digital library as part of a campaign to make 2016 the year of reading in the UAE.
2. The main goal is to provide individuals with a new horizon for looking at academic resources, beyond the traditional library setting.
3. It features a curated collection of literature, science, history, and technology.

Al manhal

1. Al Manhal is the first Arabic database provider, the result of 20 years of hard work of Al Baghdadi’s electronic publishing experience.
2. Through his experience, he sensed a need for professional content from the Arab world to be accessible in the region and around the world.
3. Similarly, without the affordable research distribution channel, the research activities of the professionals are a mere waste of their intellectual ability.
4. It provides access to Arabic full-text databases, e-books, journals, conference proceedings, essay writing services, and other research materials.

Free Global Platforms with UAE Relevance

Google Scholar

1.  You can consult Google Scholar for your Phd thesis help Dubai. While some research articles are free, many require a paid subscription as well.
2.  Google Scholar was founded in 2004. Back in 2004, it was difficult to access academic resource knowledge, and the information was often restricted behind paywalls. As a result, 2 scholars, Alex Verstak and Anurag Acharya, who were doing their research, founded it.
3.  Google Scholar is now considered the most powerful search engine that provides a wide variety of disciplines and sources, including articles, abstracts, books, theses, and dissertations.

EdX

1. edX is an American massive open online course (MOOC) provider that was co-founded by Harvard and MIT in 2012.
2. It offers more than 3,500 courses from top universities and organizations worldwide.
3. From data science and computer programming to the humanities, edX provides free online academic resources covering the evolving needs of today’s job market. Although the content is free, to get a certificate, you need to pay a fee.

Coursera

1. Coursera is another popular MOOC platform founded in 2012.
2. As of now, 350+ leading universities offer their courses, certification programs, and degrees in different fields like business, software engineering, healthcare, data analytics, sales, and marketing through Coursera.
3. Moreover, Coursera works with different governments, NGOs, and universities to give its services at a discounted rate, so the students or individuals needing them will access them for free.

Khan Academy

• 1. In 2008, Salman Khan founded Khan Academy. It is an American-based non-profit organization.
  2. Their mission is to provide free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere.
  3. The organization produces short instructional video lessons. Moreover, its website also features practice exercises, step-by-step solutions, and study materials for educators of all ages.

Subjects are science, mathematics, history, chemistry, finance, and many more.

Zendy

1. Zendy is another research library where you can get access to millions of journals, articles, and literature at free or affordable rates.
2. Zandy also has the feature to summarize the long paper into one paragraph of key points without losing key details.
3. Zendy is accessible in 200 countries and covers almost every discipline from medicine to engineering to the humanities to the social sciences.

Conclusion

In conclusion, in the UAE, there are several local and global platforms where you can get access to free academic resource content. Local libraries include Maktaba, the British Council Library, the Abu Dhabi Children’s Library, the Dubai Digital Library, and Al Manhal. On the other hand, global platforms that you can access from anywhere are Google Scholar, EdX, Coursera, Khan Academy, and Zendy.

Whether you are a student preparing for exams, a researcher doing a thesis, or simply anyone who enjoys learning, these platforms make academic resource knowledge accessible at your fingertips. With the advancement in the latest technology, free academic resources are just a click away.