This initiative is part of Mubadala’s commitment to the UAE’s Year of the Community, a nationwide call to strengthen connections, foster service, and support one another in lasting and impactful ways.

It all began with a simple yet powerful idea: to transform the Centre’s existing library into a space where every student could feel welcome, supported, and inspired. The Centre’s leadership had the vision. Mubadala helped bring it to life by offering resources, expertise, and, most importantly, its people.

Over several months, more than 35 Mubadala employees volunteered their time. Some picked up paintbrushes, turning blank walls into vibrant murals. Others curated the book collection, sorting, labeling, and shelving titles tailored to a range of interests and needs. Several recorded bilingual audio stories, ensuring the library could be enjoyed by students of all abilities. Many participated in student-led design workshops, listening to ideas, offering support, and helping shape a space where every voice mattered.

“As soon as we walked into the design workshop, the students lit up,” shared volunteer Awatif Albreiki - Policy. “One student told me, ‘I want a reading corner that feels like a spaceship.’ That idea made it into the final design. It was incredible to see their imagination come to life and to know we helped make that happen.”

Together with educators and students, the team created a library that feels inclusive in every sense. The space now features sensory corners, assistive technology, flexible furniture, and thoughtfully selected materials, all designed to support diverse learning styles and needs.

When Ameera , a student from the Future Rehabilitation Centre, first stepped into the new library, her eyes lit up. She made a beeline for the quiet corner and settled into the cushions with a book in her lap. “I love the quiet corner, the pillows are so soft, and the books have big letters that are easy to read. It makes me feel calm.”

Her classmate Abdullah was just as excited. As he walked past the bright mural he’d helped envision, he pointed proudly to the wall. “I got to help pick the colors, now it’s the best spot to read because it feels like mine.”

One of the most memorable milestones was the creation of Captain Future, a young superhero with cerebral palsy and his twin sister, imagined by the students themselves. They now appear in murals, storybooks, and audio stories voiced by Mubadala volunteers, embodying the heart of the library.

Volunteer Aliya AlDarmaki - Financial Governance & Reporting , who helped voice the character, reflected, “When I read Captain Future’s lines, I felt an enormous sense of responsibility. These stories mean something to the kids. They see themselves in them. That’s what makes this library so special.”

On 27 May, the Inclusive Library was officially inaugurated in a special ceremony attended by His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak Managing Director & Group Chief Executive Officer of Mubadala Investment Company, and Mohammed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, Chairman of the Future Rehabilitation Centre. But it was the students who truly lit up the moment. As nine-year-old Leen proudly shared, “This is my favorite place now. I helped make it.”

To continue the story and deepen the impact of the Inclusive Library, a follow-up event was held on 24 and 25 June at Mamoura, giving more Mubadala employees the chance to connect with the initiative in a personal and meaningful way. Through a series of engaging activations, they experienced the project’s journey firsthand, walking through a visual timeline, listening to the Captain Future audio story in a cozy corner, and exploring a gallery of student-created artwork.

These moments remind us of what it truly means to engage: with purpose, with humility, and with heart. The Inclusive Library stands as a testament to Mubadala’s commitment to the Year of the Community, and even more so, to our enduring belief in creating spaces where everyone feels valued, supported, and inspired to grow.

Though this story began inside a school library, it now belongs to all of us. And thanks to the people who made it possible, it’s only just beginning.