Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Fujairah: Bookstores in the UAE will go wild on Saturday when the long-awaited seventh and final instalment in the Harry Potter series of books, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, is released.
As if the Potter mania surrounding the book were not enough, on Thursday the film version of the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, gets its debut in cinemas here.
The series has made author J.K. Rowling millions, although she has said she has no plans to write any more books about Harry and his friends at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
In a Gulf News online poll, 32 per cent of respondents said Rowling should continue with the series, while 24 per cent were against the idea and 44 per cent did not care.
City Talk took to the streets of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah to find out what the residents thought.
Bodo Peters, from Germany, said he had never watched any of the movies or read any of the Harry Potter books.
"Even though I haven't seen or read any of Potter's books and films, I think Rowling should stop. It's been going on for a few years now and it's the time for it to stop," he said.
Mel Leibrick, from the Philippines, said she was not a Harry Potter fan. However, her daughter, Aisla is an enthusiast.
"I like him and I think they should do a couple more movies and books about him, but not more, or it will be too much," said Aisla.
Annelia, from South Africa, has read every Harry Potter book published so far and she thinks Rowling should stop.
"I've read all the books and thought they were interesting and very well written. It shouldn't go on for long or it will go on and on and never stop. I think Rowling should start writing about something else other than Harry Potter," she said.
Sajeer C.T., 23, an Indian sales assistant, said the Harry Potter books were "a good read", adding that he would be sad to see them come to an end.
"I cannot judge whether it is a good time to end it or not until I read the last words myself. It depends how the end is done," he said. "Maybe there is too much hype around the character but I think overall the books and movies are worthy of much of that hype."
Ali Qasim, 17, an American student, said he read the first Harry Potter book and saw some of the films, but described it as "a boring story", adding he was pleased that Rowling was ending the series.
"I think escapism is fine to a certain point but in the end there is little point to it. Perhaps the author can now write something more in tune with the real-life anxieties of teenagers," he said.
Indian store assistant Radhi Mohan, 27, said: "I've read some of the Potter books and I think there should be more of them. They are great for children and even older folks and they have helped many children take up reading which can't be a bad thing."
Scottish insurance broker Alan Duffy, 31, said although he has read all of the books and seen all of the films, ending the Harry Potter series was "the right thing to do".
"It's got to come to an end or it will drag on and it won't be as special. I like them as they are escapism. They take you into a fantasy world and reading them takes you back to your childhood," he said.
Indian sales executive Mirza Ali, 40, who has seen one Harry Potter film, thought it was right to call things to a halt.
"If you keep going with the books, the interest will be lost. If you say you are going to stop, then it will ensure they will have a better impact in the long term," he said.
Scottish businesswoman Ann Wilson said her husband and her daughter were both massive Harry Potter fans.
"If Harry Potter is giving lots of pleasure and entertainment to lots of people, it's perhaps a shame it's ending, but then again things need to change. If it continued, it would get stagnant," the businesswoman said.
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