Among its vast collection of over 2.5 million cultural items, the King Abdulaziz Public Library houses a comprehensive knowledge system that amplifies the Saudi, Arab, and Islamic cultural impact on the world—showcasing a rich, diverse heritage spanning culture, history, and literature. Central to this system are the "Special Collections," which comprise a wealth of heritage materials across various fields and formats—including manuscripts, academic theses, private libraries, rare books, photographs, and image archives, as well as maps and atlases. These collections hold immense intellectual value, providing vital scholarly material for the study and re-examination of history. Among the most significant holdings amassed by the library over its more than 40-year history is its archive of original photographs. The library possesses a vast collection of 7,811 original photographs captured by renowned photographers from the East and the Arab world—dating back to the dawn of photography in the 19th century—alongside images taken by explorers, sea captains, military personnel, and diplomats who visited the region over the past two centuries. This historic photographic archive stands as one of the world’s most important and unique resources for documenting the past and heritage of the Arab region. The library also houses the photographic collection of Major General Mohammed Sadiq Pasha. ...regarding the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah. This collection comprises an archive of eighteen rare photographs taken in 1880, alongside four acquired books: *A Brief Account of the Exploration of the Hejaz Route from Al-Wajh and Yanbu al-Bahr to the Prophetic City, with a Description of its Military Map* (1877); *The Mahmal Torch: On the Overland Hajj Journey* (1880); *The Star of Hajj: On the Mahmal’s Sea Voyage and Overland Journey* (1885); and *The Hajj Guide for Those Arriving in Makkah and Madinah from Every Quarter* (1885). These books are rare and significant, as they document the social and urban conditions of the Hejaz during the second half of the 19th century. Among the rare photographs acquired by the library is the first image of Makkah Al-Mukarramah captured by a foreign traveler—the Dutch Orientalist Snouck Hurgronje—in 1888. The collection of the renowned photographer Ahmed Pasha Helmy holds a prominent place among the library’s photographic treasures, featuring over 341 previously unpublished original photographs of the Two Holy Mosques, as well as albums documenting the Hejaz Railway and various regions of the Kingdom. Similarly, the collection of photographs by Princess Alice—granddaughter of Britain’s Queen Victoria—serves as a vital historical record; during her three-week journey to Saudi Arabia in 1938, she captured 324 rare, previously unpublished images documenting numerous events. This collection also includes a video recording of the trip, which stands as the oldest television footage of Saudi Arabia. Other special collections include the photographs of the renowned Brazilian photographer Humberto da Silveira, numbering... (165) It documents historical aspects of the Kingdom prior to the modern era of modernization. The manuscript by Abbas Pasha, written in 1852 and titled *Usul al-Khayl* (Origins of Horses)—spanning 571 pages—is considered one of the most significant holdings; it offers information on horses, lineages, heritage, and history among later Arab societies. It records the names of rulers, tribal sheikhs, prominent figures, families, and knights across the Arabian Peninsula. It also contains comprehensive data on horses—most of which were gifted by Imam Faisal bin Turki to Abbas Pasha I—and details the relationship between them, as well as with the ruler of Egypt, Ibn Tusun bin Muhammad Ali (who governed from 1870 to 1876), with whom a bond of friendship and accord existed. The library also houses a collection of British documents concerning King Abdulaziz Al Saud—may God rest his soul. These are copies of original documents held in the British archives known as the Public Record Office (PRO)—a repository of documents amassed over centuries by successive British governments that provides invaluable information about the Arabian Peninsula. Additionally, the library holds the collection of Abdul Rahman Azzam Pasha; these documents primarily address issues related to the Arab League, including its inception and founding charters, its role in seeking a solution to the Palestinian cause, efforts to activate the Arab role in regional affairs, and the independence of various nations. Among the library's special holdings is the collection of the American historian and researcher George Rentz—a prominent scholar who contributed significantly to the study of the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, having lived there from 1945 to 1962. The George Rentz collection comprises a total of 2,165 rare documents. The collection includes 1,035 documents in Arabic and 1,130 in English, as well as 1,244 books in Arabic and 3,114 titles in foreign languages. The collection of Khair al-Din al-Zirikli—the renowned man of letters, historian, and diplomat who served as Acting Counselor at the Saudi Arabian Legation in Egypt in 1934—comprises a vast array of 4,574 documents. These reflect his professional career from 1921 until his death in 1976 and include official and unofficial correspondence and documents exchanged with the Saudi government—specifically with King Abdulaziz and his sons who succeeded him, Kings Saud and Faisal. The library of Sheikh Hamza Boubakeur, Imam of the Grand Mosque of Paris, houses 17,170 titles—including books, periodicals, manuscripts, document collections, and significant rare books—in Arabic, English, French, and Russian, alongside exquisite copies of the Quran. Furthermore, the library has acquired a collection of over 700 antique maps produced in Europe since the advent of printing. This collection features works by world-renowned cartographers such as Ptolemy, Gastaldi, Ortelius, Münster, Bertius, Hondius, Mercator, Speed, Blaeu, Sanson, De Wit, Vanden Keere, Van der Aa, Rigel, Bowen, Bellin, Niebuhr, and D'Anville.