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Join the Jameel Library for a wide range of programmes led by community members this July! You could also pitch your own programme here.
Grotto’s Summer Reading Club
To kick-off the Summer Reading Challenge, the Jameel Library is hosting the cultural and literary initiative Grotto to lead curated book discussions dedicated to the interrogation of identity, myth, and historical endurance.
Gathering every Thursday in July from 6:00pm to 8:30pm at the Jameel Library, the series offers a warm space to engage with four contemporary novels:
- July 9, 2026: Kicking off with the college awkwardness of Elif July Batuman’s The Idiot
- July 16, 2026: And then into the expansive family drama of Min Jin Lee’s bestseller, Pachinko.
- July 23, 2026: The third week will dive into the magical lyrical world of Madeline Miller’s Circe.
- July 30, 2026: it will conclude with Departures in the Depths of Madinah by Sarah Al Abdali, who will be attending the session with us. on its fourth week.
Each week will foster thoughtful dialogue, allowing participants to connect over a shared passion for modern literature during these midsummer nights.
Grotto welcomes sharp insights and critical perspectives, whether joining for a single evening or committing to the complete four-week itinerary.
RSVP here.
About Grotto
Grotto is a Jeddah-born cultural initiative dedicated to uncovering the literary and historical undercurrents of the Hijaz through creative programming and research-driven community projects. It aims to bridge old world heritage with contemporary thought.
Jameel Library Monthly Writing Circle!
4-6pm
July 17, 2026
Writing is often approached as a solitary act. However, magic unfolds when treated as a participatory process. The writing circle at the Jameel Library invites writers and word lovers to gather around language collectively: to write alongside one another, exchange feedback, experiment with forms, and reflect on how stories are shaped through conversation.
Through guided-prompts, discussions, and focused moments of writing, the circle will guide you to develop your writing collaboratively rather than being perfected individually.
Whether you are beginning a new practice or returning to familiar words, you are invited to join a growing dialogue!
RSVP here
Thinking Space: Between Loving the City and Understanding Its Histories with Noor Hazim
4-6pm
July 25, 2026
This interactive workshop introduces participants to the foundations of philosophical inquiry and invites them to apply these tools through a close reading of Jeddah and Our Mother Eve by Mohammed Anowar Nowilati.
Guided by Noor Hazim, participants will collectively explore the concept of place identity, reflecting on the ways cities shape individuals’ sense of self, belonging, and memory. Through an open discussion and critical inquiry, the workshop encourages participants to move beyond a surface-level appreciation of the city and cultivate a deeper understanding of the historical narratives, cultural layers, and lived experiences that give it meaning.
RSVP here.
About Noor Hazim
Noor Hazim is a certified P4C (Philosophical Thinking) facilitator. Her practice navigates between facilitating dialogues, arts, and reflective writing. She seeks to provide interactive thinking spaces that connect participants with books, creating intellectual experiences that encourage independent and critical inquiry and collaborative cultural production.
