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
426
catalogued sources across individuals, institutions, manuscripts, and publications
This is a living directory. Know a source not listed?
Contribute a record →
275
Documented Individuals
893–present
78
Institutions & Archives
incl. Natural Heritage
53
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
Voice
Manal AlDowayan
Saudi · Visual artist & cultural activist — explores Saudi women's identity and memory
February 2026 · ↗ From Within
Voice
Rawan AlFuraih
Saudi · Researcher studying bodylore and folk tradition in Najd (Oxford DPhil)
February 2026 · ↗ From Within
Voice
Ahmed Mater
Saudi · Conceptual artist & physician — Mecca, transformation, the sacred and modern
February 2026 · ↗ From Within
Voice
Nazik Al-Malaika
Iraqi · 1923–2007 · Co-founder of Arabic free verse poetry
February 2026 · ↗ From Within
Voice
Hamad Al-Jassir
Saudi · 1910–2000 · Most important Saudi historian-geographer of the 20th century
February 2026 · ↗ From Within
Voice
Badr Shakir Al-Sayyab
Iraqi · Pioneer of Arabic modernist poetry; profound influence across the Peninsula
February 2026 · ↗ From Within
Individual
Ibn Battuta
Moroccan · The Rihla — most extensive medieval account of Arabian Peninsula, 1325–1354
February 2026 · ↗ Looking In
Individual
Lady Anne Blunt
British · First Western woman in Najd, 1878–79
February 2026 · ↗ Looking In
Browse the directory
🔭 Looking In Explorers, photographers & travelers who documented the Peninsula from outside 140 individuals · 1325–present ✍️ From Within Writers, poets, journalists & intellectuals from across the Arabian Peninsula 117 voices · Saudi · Kuwait · Iraq · Yemen · more 🏛️ Institutions Archives, libraries & collections worldwide holding Peninsula material 78 institutions · 15 countries 📜 Manuscripts Manuscript collections with direct access links — Qatar Digital Library, British Library & more 20 collections · worldwide 📚 Books Key references, primary sources & travel accounts — many freely available online 58 titles · direct access links 🌱 Living Projects Active archival, heritage & cultural documentation initiatives across the Peninsula Active · updated continuously

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

Al-Falaj is a living directory — updated continuously, open to all. Contribute a record.