Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Attiyah Library

The library houses 22,000 titles in approximately 35,000 volumes, including a significant collection of books printed during the early days of printing in both Europe and the Arab world. Printing first emerged in Europe in the mid-15th century, beginning in Mainz, Germany, in 1436. At that time, the German craftsman Johannes Gutenberg developed the movable-type printing technique using interchangeable metal characters. The establishment of the first printing press in Mainz by Gutenberg marked a pivotal moment in the history of printing. His press employed movable-type devices of his own design, allowing books to be printed with far greater speed and efficiency than the traditional methods of handwriting or manual copying. Arabic printing began in Europe in the 16th century, as a result of the growing interest of Western scholars and orientalists in Arab and Islamic heritage. During the Middle Ages, studies of Arabic and Islamic culture were expanding across Europe, creating a pressing need to print and disseminate these works. Special presses were established for this purpose, employing movable metal type arranged to form Arabic texts. Over time, numerous Arabic presses were founded in European cities, producing hundreds of Arabic and Oriental booksmost prominently in London, Paris, Leipzig, Leiden, Rome, Vienna, Berlin, and St. Petersburg. The library also contains many books printed during the emergence of printing in the Arab world. At that time, there was strong momentum in the writing, publication, and distribution of printed works. Local presses played a key role in this movement, with Bulaq Press in Egypt and others across Arab cities serving as engines for publishing Arab heritage. These presses became central to the production and circulation of books, contributing significantly to the spread of knowledge and culture. The librarys exhibition covers a wide variety of subjects, including religions, sciences, history, geography, travel and exploration, literature, language, and poetry, presented in multiple languages such as Arabic, Latin, English, German, and French.