AL-FALAJ · الفَلَج

Al-Falaj

Arabian Peninsula Heritage Archives

An open directory connecting researchers to dispersed archival and primary source material of the Arabian Peninsula and its historical borderlands — manuscripts, photographs, maps, governmental records, oral history, archaeological surveys, trade documentation, and institutional collections held worldwide.

Named after the ancient irrigation channel that runs underground, connecting scattered water sources to those who need them. This directory does the same for heritage.

Last updated · February 2026
268
catalogued sources across individuals, institutions, manuscripts, and publications

This is a living directory. Know a source not listed?
Contribute a record →
140
Documented Individuals
1861–present
77
Institutions & Archives
incl. Natural Heritage
58
Books & Publications
direct access links
20
Manuscript Collections
worldwide
47
Open Access Sources
archives & books
Institutions by Region
Arabian Peninsula41
United Kingdom12
Europe (incl. Turkey)16
United States4
Recently Added
Individual
Ibn Battuta
Moroccan · The Rihla — most extensive medieval account of Arabian Peninsula, 1325–1354
February 2026 · ↗ Individuals
Individual
Ludovico di Varthema
Italian · First Western eyewitness account of Mecca and Medina, 1503
February 2026 · ↗ Individuals
Individual
Captain W.H.I. Shakespear
British · First photographs of Ibn Saud and Riyadh, 1910–14
February 2026 · ↗ Individuals
Individual
Lady Anne Blunt
British · First Western woman in Najd, 1878–79
February 2026 · ↗ Individuals
Individual
Hans Helfritz
German · First European to document Shabwa; Hadhramaut films, 1930–35
February 2026 · ↗ Individuals
Individual
Ali Riza Pasha
Ottoman Turkish · Head of imperial photography unit, Yıldız Palace
February 2026 · ↗ Individuals
Individual
Karl Lorenz Auler
Prussian / Ottoman adviser · Hejaz Railway photographer, 1907
February 2026 · ↗ Individuals
Individual
Ibrahim Rif'at Pasha
Egyptian · Mir'at al-Haramayn, Hajj photography pioneer
February 2026 · ↗ Individuals

Where the Archives Are

Archives and libraries worldwide that hold Arabian Peninsula heritage — click any marker for details

Open Access

How Al-Falaj Works

A guide for researchers using this directory

1
Search by region, period, or source type
Use the map, filters, or search across individuals, institutions, and travelers. Filter by country, time period, source type, or access status.
2
Discover what sources exist
Find the individuals, travelers, and institutions who documented the region, what they photographed, and where their archives are held today — sometimes in unexpected places.
3
Contact the institution directly
Every record includes a direct link to the holding institution and a clear access status — open, partial, or physical-only. No cold-calling archives to find out if something exists.

Know a source not listed? Contribute a record