ISBN Service

About UAE National ISBN Centre

An International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a unique 13-digit identifier that uniquely identifies books and book-like products published internationally. The ISBN is intended for a monographic publication: text that stands on its own as a product, whether printed, audio or electronic.
For more than thirty years, ISBNs were 10 digits long. On January 1, 2007, the ISBN system switched to a 13-digit format.
NLA joined the ISBN network on January 9, 2026, with the mission to set up and operate the ISBN National Centre, i.e. the unique official organisation responsible for ISBN assignment in UAE.
The ISBN National Centre, a member of the international ISBN network, is responsible for assigning ISBNs to publishers located exclusively in UAE, in accordance with the principles of ISO Standard:
ISO 2108:2017 Information and documentation — International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
The ISBN is an identifier and does not constitute any form of legal or copyright protection. However, in UAE the use of ISBN to identify publications is mandatory and has been established as a legal requirement. All monographs with ISBN assigned in UAE will be recorded in the UAE National Bibliography.

The assignment of the ISBN is free in the UAE and there is no charge associated with its use.
In order to apply for an ISBN, applicants must first create an account in ISBNuae
ISBNuae is a web-based system to apply for ISBN, track the progress of your application and communicate with the UAE ISBN Centre.
If the publication meets the criteria, an ISBN is allocated within a maximum of five (5) working days. Once an ISBN has been assigned, you will be notified.

Service link ISBNuae

You may apply for an ISBN if you meet the following criteria:
– You are an individual, company or organisation located in UAE
– You intend to make your publication publicly available.
To fulfil its purpose, The ISBN should be displayed prominently in the lower corner of the back of the title page of the book, as well as at the bottom of the outside of the back cover. For audiovisual and electronic publications, the ISBN is printed on both the storage medium and its cover.
Each format (eBook, paperback, hardcover, audiobook) requires its own ISBN.
Minor changes (typos & layout adjustments) do not require a new ISBN.
Major changes (new edition, new format, significant content changes) do require a new ISBN.
Once assigned to a book, the ISBN may not be changed, replaced, or re-used.
Once published, you are required to deposit three copies of your book with the National Library for inclusion in the National Bibliography and for long-term preservation.

Have a question? Feel free to drop us a line at: isxn@nla.ae

For support, please call us at: +9712 4183333

Address:
National Library and Archives
UAE ISBN Center
P.O. Box: 5884 Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates

Service hours:
Monday-Thursday
9:30 am-3:00 pm