Arabic Calligraphy Library Houses 2,000 Specialist Titles

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy in Riyadh is home to what is described as the world's largest specialised library dedicated to Arabic calligraphy, housing nearly 2,000 titles across 11 international languages.

The collection also includes around 450 rare editions, alongside publications covering the history of Arabic calligraphy, its origins and development, biographies of renowned calligraphers, and the traditional tools and materials used in the craft, including inks, pens and paper.

The library's holdings extend to instructional guides, calligraphy albums, artworks, illustrated manuscripts, academic theses, peer-reviewed journals, and catalogues from local and international exhibitions and competitions. It also features resources on related artistic disciplines such as illumination, ornamentation and inscriptions.

Designed to support researchers, artists and practitioners, the facility can accommodate up to 60 visitors and researchers at a time. The library also houses the centre's own scholarly publications and specialised encyclopaedias, providing a comprehensive reference resource for the study of Arabic calligraphy and its associated arts.