King Abdulaziz Public Library highlights Saudi-French cultural ties with rare collections and translations

King Abdulaziz Public Library houses important historical and documentary sources chronicling the development of Saudi-French relations. Its collections and catalogs trace the beginnings of diplomatic ties between the two countries during the era of King Abdulaziz, as well as books, studies, and theses on French documents that chart the evolution of political and economic relations, which began before the Kingdom’s founding in 1924.

The library also offers a range of publications highlighting French society’s and historians’ perspectives on Saudi Arabia, such as "Saudi Arabia Through French Eyes" and "Arabia: The Garden of Painters" by French researcher and photographer Thierry Mauger.

A knowledge bridge has been established through translations between Arabic and French, including historical and cultural works such as: "Discover Saudi Arabia," "General Principles of the Arabian Horseman," a study on the history of the Arabian horse, the translation of "Islam: The Future of Salafism Between Revolution and Westernization" by French academic Dr. Charles Saint-Prot, "Saudi Features and Places," "The Impact of Black People on Islamic Civilization" by Rashid Khayoun, and "Arabia: The Garden of Painters" by Thierry Mauger, among many others. The library plays a significant role in introducing Saudi and Arab heritage to the Francophone world through translation projects, publications, and rare French-language acquisitions.

In the field of children's literature, the library has published several French-language children’s books, including "The Saudi Ardah," "Yamamah," and "Saudi Handicrafts."

In collaboration with Princess Nourah University, the library has translated several children’s stories into French, most notably a story about generosity and identity titled "Hours pour le café saoudien" (Hours for Saudi Coffee), as well as "Grandmother’s Tales," "Crafts," and "Hajj and Umrah," aiming to share Saudi traditions and heritage with French-speaking children.

The library’s multilingual children’s section also welcomes many French families and those interested in French culture.

Heritage collections:

King Abdulaziz Public Library is dedicated to preserving Saudi, Arab, and Islamic heritage, as well as global heritage, including French. It holds one of the region’s largest map collections—over 700 historical maps, some dating back to 1482. The collection includes hundreds of maps and geographic plans in old French and other languages, drawn by leading European cartographers to document the geography and history of the Arabian Peninsula.

The library also owns hundreds of rare French books in literature, history, arts, and sciences, in addition to works on French literature and culture across eras. It provides works by French and European orientalists and travelers who visited Arabia and recorded its history and heritage.

Awards, exhibitions, and visits:

In 2009, Paris—specifically UNESCO headquarters—hosted the third King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Award for Translation ceremony, with 23 countries participating and 118 nominated works.

The library also organized the Hajj exhibition in Paris, which attracted large numbers of French visitors and introduced the Kingdom’s extensive efforts in serving millions of pilgrims annually.

Since 2019, the Unified Arab Catalog, one of the library's projects, has enabled the addition of non-Arabic content, including French, to its bibliographic records, documenting Arab intellectual output published in foreign languages. The catalog’s website supports multiple languages, including French, facilitating access for researchers and library professionals in France and Europe to its vast bibliographic database.

French Ambassador Ludovic Pouille visited King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh on March 30, 2021, noting the "great prospects for cooperation between the French and the library." He praised the library’s enlightening role, its hosting of millions of books, and its diverse cultural activities.

The library also holds a significant collection of books and studies on Saudi-French relations, including: "French-Saudi Relations 1967-2012" by Dr. Faisal Al-Mujfel; "Saudi Arabia Through French Eyes" by Dr. Mujib Al-Zahrani; "A Reading in Saudi-French Relations (1924-1953)" by Dr. Sayed Ahmed Younes; and "Saudi Arabia in French Writings" by Mohammed Al-Hannash.