King Abdulaziz Public Library

King Abdulaziz Public Library is a charitable institution founded by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 1405 AH, corresponding to 1985 CE, to care for matters relating to the book and its beneficiaries, and it is headquartered in Riyadh [2][9].

Its official opening on 10 Rajab 1408 AH, corresponding to 27 February 1988, marked a milestone in the Saudi cultural scene, as the library became a knowledge centre serving society and human development [1].

The library holds more than 5.2 million knowledge items, including rare manuscripts, the latest scholarly publications and rare holdings, and it serves more than one million beneficiaries annually through an integrated system of library services, digital databases and cultural projects [1].

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud founded the library in 1405 AH, corresponding to 1985 CE, as a charitable institution concerned with the book and its beneficiaries [2].

The official opening followed on 10 Rajab 1408 AH, corresponding to 27 February 1988, when the library began serving researchers, scholars and the community [1].

The library includes the King Abdulaziz Hall and the Main Hall, with their books, information media and rare documents, the Islamic Manuscripts Department and the Children's Library, alongside modern automated systems for storing and retrieving information [6].

The library's branches comprise the main headquarters and the Al-Murabba branch, two integrated cultural complexes that include specialised libraries for women and children, and the Reference Services branch in Khurais, which serves researchers and scholars [1].

The library's presence extends beyond the Kingdom through two branches: the King Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation for Islamic Studies and Human Sciences in Casablanca, Morocco, and the library branch at Peking University in the People's Republic of China [1].

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud opened the library's branch at Peking University, and the Arab-Chinese Libraries Portal was launched with it as part of the cultural cooperation between the Kingdom and China [5].

The library's branch is located in the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in the Al-Murabba district of Riyadh, the site where the library hosts cultural and scholarly events and lectures [9].

The library manages and carries out a number of national and international cultural projects and awards, including the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Award for Translation and the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Award for Cultural Cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China [1].

Its projects include the Unified Arab Index, the Arab Digital Library and the Arab-Chinese Digital Library, along with the Encyclopedia of Saudi Arabia, the National Project to Renew the Connection with the Book and the Children's Book Club [1].

On 12 May 2026 the library opened the Children's Library, the largest specialised library for children in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a capacity of more than 500 children, extending a cultural journey of more than four decades and advancing the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in human capability development [3].

In 2019 the library announced its readiness to launch the Young Adults Library, aimed at the 10 to 18 age group, to give them life skills that complement character building [7].

The library marked World Book Day in April 2019 at Qasr Al-Hukm square in Riyadh with a cultural programme linked to Saudi Vision 2030 and the features of Saudi culture, present and future [8].

On 21 September 2025 it opened the "Al-Muwahhid" exhibition in the exhibition hall at the library's Al-Murabba branch in Riyadh, an exhibition holding items preserved by the library on the biography of King Abdulaziz Al Saud; it was held on the occasion of the 95th National Day and continued until 23 October 2025 [4].

The library's board of directors is chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Saud, while His Excellency Mr. Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muammar supervises the library as acting chairman of the board, and Dr. Abdulkarim bin Abdulrahman Al-Zaid serves as Deputy Supervisor General [1].

The chairmanship of the board was held by Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1436 AH, corresponding to 2015 CE [10].

Q: What is King Abdulaziz Public Library? A: A charitable institution founded in 1405 AH, corresponding to 1985 CE, to care for matters relating to the book and its beneficiaries, and it is headquartered in Riyadh [2].

Q: When did the library formally open? A: On 10 Rajab 1408 AH, corresponding to 27 February 1988 [1].

Q: How many knowledge items does the library hold? A: More than 5.2 million knowledge items, and it serves more than one million beneficiaries annually [1].

Q: What are the library's branches inside and outside the Kingdom? A: The main headquarters, the Al-Murabba branch and the Reference Services branch in Khurais, in addition to two international branches in Casablanca, Morocco, and at Peking University in China [1].

Q: What are the most prominent projects and awards the library manages? A: The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Award for Translation, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Award for Cultural Cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China, the Unified Arab Index, the Arab Digital Library, the Encyclopedia of Saudi Arabia and the National Project to Renew the Connection with the Book [1].

The library combines a fully integrated local presence with an international reach and digital and knowledge projects, among the cultural institutions that serve researchers and scholars in the Kingdom [1]. Related topics on the platform include King Fahd National Library and Saudi National Museum.