In brief
At the Mohamed Bin Rashid Library, a moderated session introduced Jamal Al Shehhi’s story of living in Wisconsin and its impact on his sense of home, drawing on Arab and Western perspectives. Key figures from the library foundation and Emirati literary circles shared observations on how the book illustrates the evolving notions of belonging, memory, and cultural dialogue.
On Thursday, November 5, 2026, Mohammed Bin Rashid Library in Dubai staged an event to launch Emirati author Jamal Al Shehhi’s first book, Here, Wisconsin: A Gulf Arab Between Two Worlds. The session, moderated by Dr. Sulaiman Al Hattlan, unpacked themes of identity and belonging as they intersected with the author’s U.S. experience.
Participants included HMohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, who positioned the novel within a broader Arab literary trend that examines travel, study, and cultural tension. Dr. Jamal Sanad Al Suwaidi, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research, contributed to a discussion on how dual worlds shape personal narrative.
Board member Dr. Mohammed Salem AlMazrooei observed that the book’s setting in Wisconsin represents a transformative space where the author’s self‑discovery unfolds against a backdrop of American everydayness. He noted that this space and the familiar UAE homeland coexist, creating a narrative thread of nostalgia intertwined with reflection on belonging.
Prominent Emirati writer Abdul Ghaffar Hussein added that the novel’s exploration of cross‑cultural experience “deepens the conversation about Arab identity in a global context.” He highlighted that the author’s perspective, shaped by his study abroad, offers a nuanced view on how exposure to other cultures challenges pre‑conceptions.
Al Murr spoke about the cultural and civilisational questions that the book raises, discussing how the author’s inquiry into progress, difference, and engagement resonates with a wider audience. He mentioned that such dialogues are essential for fostering mutual understanding and bridging social divides between Arab and Western societies.
The moderator reflected on the relationship between writing and memory. He emphasized that the passage of time allows writers to reinterpret their experiences, suggesting that the novel’s juxtaposition of UAE roots and Wisconsin transformation invites readers to reconsider how memory shapes identity.
Throughout the evening, the event positioned the library as a cultural hub that supports Emirati authors while celebrating new literary work. Participants underscored that these gatherings strengthen the presence of books within the cultural landscape and turn reading into a space for connection and knowledge exchange.
In a closing remark, Al Murr highlighted that the launch forms a part of Mohammed Bin Rashid Library’s ongoing cultural programme. He reiterated the library’s commitment to facilitating dialogue around literary and human experiences.
The night’s discussion, held under Dubai’s vivid skyline, underscored the complex interplay between home and foreign experience in Jamal Al Shehhi’s narrative. It also reaffirmed the library’s role as a platform for Emirati literary voices and a bridge between cultural worlds.
