The King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh has translated more than 100 books on the history of Saudi Arabia and Arab and Islamic culture from various international languages into Arabic, including works by Orientalists and travel writers, according to a report released by the library to mark International Translation Day. The report, issued ahead of the United Nations observance of International Translation Day on September 30, also disclosed that the library has acquired 640 rare books comprising works translated from multiple languages, the oldest of which date back to the early 19th century. The announcement underscores the institution’s expanding role as a bridge between Arabic and global knowledge at a time when Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in cultural diplomacy and cross-cultural understanding.
How does a library established to preserve a nation’s heritage become one of the Arab world’s most active engines of global translation? For the King Abdulaziz Public Library, the answer lies in a decades-long strategy that combines rare-book acquisition, reciprocal publishing programs, and international awards. The library’s latest figures reveal a collection of 30,781 books covering translation from various perspectives, in addition to thousands of volumes translated into Arabic from English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese, Hindi, and other languages. Together, these holdings position the Riyadh-based institution as a central node in the circulation of ideas between the Kingdom and the wider world.
Context and Background
What makes the King Abdulaziz Public Library’s translation record significant beyond its own shelves? The library has, over the past decade, translated more than 100 books on the history of Saudi Arabia and Arab and Islamic civilization from a wide range of international languages into Arabic. These include works by Orientalists and travel writers — a category of literature that has historically shaped Western perceptions of the Arabian Peninsula. By bringing these texts into Arabic, the library gives Saudi and Arab readers direct access to how their region has been studied, described, and interpreted abroad, while also subjecting those accounts to scholarly scrutiny within the region itself.
The acquisition of 640 rare translated books adds a material dimension to this mission. Some of these volumes date back to the early 19th century, making them both bibliographic treasures and historical documents that trace the evolution of translation as a cultural practice. The library’s report highlights rare books in the fields of translated knowledge, science, arts, literature, and general culture, reflecting the breadth of subjects that have traveled across linguistic borders over the past two centuries. For researchers and historians, such holdings offer primary evidence of how ideas moved between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East during pivotal periods of modernization.
International Translation Day, observed annually on September 30, was designated by the United Nations to honor the role of language professionals in connecting nations and fostering peace. The library’s decision to release its report on this occasion signals a deliberate alignment with global efforts to recognize translation as a pillar of diplomacy and mutual understanding. It also reflects a broader Saudi commitment to cultural engagement that extends well beyond the Kingdom’s borders.
Key Details
What specific programs have driven the library’s translation expansion? Over the past 10 years, the institution has expanded opportunities for reciprocal translation between Arabic and Chinese, particularly following the establishment of its branch at Peking University in the People’s Republic of China. This academic partnership has enabled a large collection of Arabic literary, fiction, and scientific works to be translated into Chinese, while Chinese works have likewise been rendered into Arabic. The two-way flow of texts represents a notable model of balanced cultural exchange, ensuring that neither language community remains merely a recipient of the other’s knowledge.
The library’s translation footprint is further demonstrated by its creation of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Award for Translation in 2006. According to the report, the award has received submissions from more than 70 countries, with approximately 1,726 works in 45 languages submitted across its previous 11 editions. A total of 516 judges have participated in evaluating the submissions, while 132 translators, cultural bodies, and institutions have received the award. These figures illustrate the scale of international participation the prize has attracted and its role in setting benchmarks for translation quality across languages.
Beyond awards and acquisitions, the library maintains a working collection of 30,781 books covering translation from various perspectives, alongside thousands of translated volumes in major world languages. This combination of rare heritage items and contemporary translated works allows the library to serve both scholars tracing historical translation practices and general readers seeking accessible works in Arabic. The depth of the collection also supports the library’s publishing initiatives, which have gained international recognition in their own right.
In 2025, the King Abdulaziz Public Library received the Excellence Award in Publishing (Children’s Books Category) at the Riyadh International Book Fair Awards. The award recognized its efforts and initiatives in publishing and translating children’s stories to promote cross-cultural communication and showcase children’s literature globally in multiple languages as part of a distinctive cultural translation project. The recognition highlights how translation at the library extends beyond academic texts into materials that shape young readers’ understanding of other cultures.
International and Regional Impact
How does the King Abdulaziz Public Library’s work influence cultural relations beyond Saudi Arabia? The library’s translation programs, particularly its Arabic-Chinese initiative anchored at Peking University, contribute to a broader pattern of deepening ties between the Kingdom and major Asian economies. By facilitating the movement of literary, scientific, and fictional works in both directions, the library supports people-to-people connections that complement trade and diplomatic relations. For international audiences, this means greater access to Arabic literature and thought, while Arab readers gain direct exposure to Chinese intellectual and creative traditions.
Regionally, the library’s collection of rare translated books and its extensive modern holdings reinforce Riyadh’s position as a center of knowledge production in the Arab world. The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Award for Translation, with submissions from more than 70 countries and 45 languages, has established a global platform that draws translators and institutions into sustained engagement with Arabic letters. The participation of 516 judges over 11 editions reflects a rigorous evaluation process that lends credibility to the award and encourages high standards in translation across languages. For a region often discussed in geopolitical terms, these cultural and scholarly exchanges offer a complementary narrative of cooperation and mutual respect.
Economic and Strategic Significance
Why does translation matter strategically for Saudi Arabia? As the Kingdom pursues economic diversification and global investment partnerships, the ability to communicate across languages and cultures becomes an operational necessity as well as a cultural asset. The King Abdulaziz Public Library’s translation infrastructure — its collections, awards, and publishing programs — supports the flow of knowledge that underpins research, education, and international business. By translating scientific and literary works into Arabic, the library helps ensure that Saudi students, researchers, and professionals can engage with global developments in their own language.
The library’s recognition at the Riyadh International Book Fair Awards 2025 for children’s book publishing and translation also carries economic weight. Children’s literature is a growing segment of the regional publishing market, and success in translating and distributing such works internationally opens commercial and cultural opportunities. The award reflects the library’s ability to operate as both a heritage institution and a modern publisher, a dual role that aligns with the Kingdom’s broader ambitions in creative industries and knowledge economy development.
Vision 2030 Alignment
How does the King Abdulaziz Public Library’s translation mission connect to Saudi Vision 2030? The Vision’s cultural and quality-of-life objectives emphasize the importance of preserving heritage while opening the Kingdom to the world. The library’s work — translating more than 100 books on Saudi and Arab-Islamic history, acquiring 640 rare translated volumes, and running an international translation award — directly supports these goals by making Saudi culture accessible globally and bringing global culture into Arabic. These efforts also strengthen the cultural sector as a contributor to national identity and international soft power.
As Saudi Arabia continues to expand its global engagement, institutions like the King Abdulaziz Public Library demonstrate how cultural infrastructure can serve strategic ends. The library’s Arabic-Chinese translation program, its internationally recognized award, and its award-winning children’s publishing all point to a long-term vision of the Kingdom as a hub for cross-cultural dialogue. In a world where understanding across languages is increasingly valuable, the library’s translation record offers a model of how heritage and modernity can advance together — a model that will continue to shape Saudi Arabia’s global role in the years ahead.
20 Questions
Q1. What did the King Abdulaziz Public Library announce regarding its translation efforts?
A1. The library reported that it has translated more than 100 books on Saudi, Arab, and Islamic history into Arabic and acquired 640 rare translated books, some dating to the early 19th century. The announcement coincided with International Translation Day on September 30.
Q2. How many rare translated books has the library acquired?
A2. The library has acquired 640 rare books comprising works translated from various languages. The oldest of these volumes date back to the early 19th century, making them significant historical and bibliographic treasures.
Q3. What is International Translation Day and when is it observed?
A3. International Translation Day is observed by the United Nations on September 30 each year. It honors language professionals and highlights translation’s role in connecting nations, fostering peace, and enabling cross-cultural understanding.
Q4. How many books on Saudi and Arab-Islamic history has the library translated?
A4. The library has translated more than 100 books on the history of Saudi Arabia and Arab and Islamic culture from various international languages into Arabic. These include works by Orientalists and travel writers.
Q5. What is the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Award for Translation?
A5. Established by the library in 2006, the award recognizes excellence in translation. It has received submissions from more than 70 countries, with approximately 1,726 works in 45 languages across its previous 11 editions.
Q6. How many countries have submitted works to the translation award?
A6. More than 70 countries have submitted works to the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Award for Translation. The award has received approximately 1,726 works in 45 languages over its previous 11 editions.
Q7. How many judges have participated in evaluating award submissions?
A7. A total of 516 judges have participated in evaluating submissions for the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Award for Translation across its 11 editions. Their work ensures rigorous, international standards for the prize.
Q8. How many translators and institutions have received the award?
A8. A total of 132 translators, cultural bodies, and institutions have received the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Award for Translation. This reflects the award’s broad international reach and impact.
Q9. What languages has the library translated books from into Arabic?
A9. The library has translated works from English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese, Hindi, and other languages. Its collection includes thousands of such translated volumes across multiple disciplines.
Q10. How large is the library’s collection of translation-related books?
A10. The library holds a collection of 30,781 books covering translation from various perspectives. This is in addition to thousands of books translated into Arabic from major world languages.
Q11. What role does the library’s branch at Peking University play?
A11. The branch at Peking University in China has expanded reciprocal translation between Arabic and Chinese over the past decade. It enables Arabic literary, fiction, and scientific works to be translated into Chinese and vice versa.
Q12. What kind of works have been translated between Arabic and Chinese?
A12. A large collection of Arabic literary, fiction, and scientific works has been translated into Chinese. Similarly, Chinese works have been translated into Arabic, creating a balanced two-way exchange of knowledge and culture.
Q13. What award did the library receive at the Riyadh International Book Fair Awards 2025?
A13. The library received the Excellence Award in Publishing in the Children’s Books Category. The award recognized its efforts in publishing and translating children’s stories to promote cross-cultural communication.
Q14. Why is children’s literature translation important to the library?
A14. Translating children’s stories promotes cross-cultural communication and showcases children’s literature globally in multiple languages. It helps young readers understand other cultures and supports the library’s distinctive cultural translation project.
Q15. What fields do the library’s rare translated books cover?
A15. The rare books cover translated knowledge, science, arts, literature, and general culture. This breadth reflects how ideas have traveled across linguistic borders over the past two centuries.
Q16. How does the library support cross-cultural communication?
A16. The library supports cross-cultural communication through reciprocal translation programs, an international translation award, and publishing initiatives. These efforts make Saudi and Arab culture accessible globally while bringing global works into Arabic.
Q17. What is the significance of the library’s rare 19th-century books?
A17. These rare books are both bibliographic treasures and historical documents. They trace the evolution of translation as a cultural practice and offer primary evidence of how ideas moved between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Q18. How does the library’s work align with Saudi Vision 2030?
A18. The library’s translation mission supports Vision 2030’s cultural and quality-of-life objectives. It preserves heritage while opening the Kingdom to the world, strengthening cultural identity and international soft power.
Q19. What makes the King Abdulaziz Public Library a leader in translation?
A19. Its combination of rare-book acquisition, extensive modern collections, an international award, and active publishing programs makes it a leader. It serves scholars, general readers, and international audiences across many languages.
Q20. What future impact could the library’s translation efforts have?
A20. The library’s efforts could deepen global understanding of Saudi and Arab culture while giving Arabic readers access to world knowledge. They position the Kingdom as a hub for cross-cultural dialogue and knowledge exchange.
Reader Feedback
We value your thoughts. Please share your feedback on this article.
Your feedback helps us improve our coverage.
Related articles
Professional Literature Association Opens New HQ in Abha
Jazan Preserves Heritage Through Clay Vessels and Boats
Al-Zabeel: Preserving Saudi Date Harvest Craftsmanship
Woodturning Club Revives Traditional Craft in Historic Jeddah
Makkah resident describes Ramadan traditions from 50 years ago
Saudi man creates Eighties Majlis for Ramadan Iftar