Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Public Library Houses Over 32,000 Rare and Historic Books

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Public Library houses an extensive collection of more than 32,625 rare and historic books, preserving valuable printed works related to Arabic and Islamic heritage while expanding research opportunities for scholars and readers.

One of the library’s major attractions is its collection of rare books published in early European editions. The collection includes 78 books on the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), 113 books on translations and interpretations of the Holy Quran in ancient European languages, 55 books on Quranic studies, and 54 books on Islamic sources and references.

These publications offer valuable insights into early European interest in the Holy Quran and Islamic scholarship, as well as the research approaches adopted during that period.

The library also houses a significant collection of Arabic books printed in Europe between 1592 and 1593. Notable works include Ibn Sina’s The Canon of Medicine, edited by H. Ritter, and Abdul Qahir al-Jurjani’s Secrets of Eloquence.

Other important titles in the collection include Annals of the Publication of the Mathani by Plubionas the Wise, edited by Osla Wiser; Abu al-Faraj ibn al-Tayyib’s commentary on Porphyry’s Book of Isagoge, edited by Quameziki; and Jalaluddin al-Suyuti’s Islamic Astronomy, edited by Anton M. Heinen.

Another valuable asset of the library is its collection of 8,271 rare Arabic books. These works have been systematically catalogued, classified and preserved in a digital database, making it easier for researchers and interested readers to access bibliographic information and explore their contents.

The King Abdulaziz Public Library also preserves the personal collections of several prominent figures. Among them is the private library of Hamza Boubakeur, former dean of an Islamic institute and imam of the Grand Mosque of Paris.

His collection comprises 19,821 volumes across 17,170 titles in Arabic, Persian, English, German and Russian. It includes books, journals, newspapers, manuscripts, historical documents, press clippings, research papers and rare publications.

The library’s holdings cover a wide range of subjects, including Islamic sciences, literature, travel accounts, and the history, heritage, culture, customs and social traditions of different countries and communities.

In particular, its collections focusing on the history and culture of Saudi Arabia, the Arabian Gulf region and the wider Islamic world serve as an important resource for emerging researchers and scholars.

Through its extensive rare-book holdings, historical archives and specialised collections, the King Abdulaziz Public Library continues to play an important role in preserving Arabic and Islamic intellectual heritage and supporting academic research.