Introduction 

The Saudi Memory Unit was established in 2017 with the aim to preserve and document the cultural, social, and artistic heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and anthropologically study it. The heritage, both tangible and intangible, includes its written, oral, and audio-visual forms. In particular, the Unit manages Dr. Saad Al-Sowayyan's audio collection and his personal library, which has been acquired by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and gifted to the King Faisal Center. 

Objectives 

• Studying the history and social and cultural heritage of the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula

• Documenting the social, cultural, literary, and artistic history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

• Preserving the intangible heritage of tribal lineages and the tribal customs and traditions of the Arabian Peninsula

• Assisting researchers and those interested in heritage and folklore

• Collaborating with specialist bodies and research organizations to document the oral history of the Arabian Peninsula

• Promoting the study of anthropology and folklore in both Arabic and English 

Access to the Materials 

The Unit offers a database of books and audio-visual materials for researchers. Researchers can access them through the King Faisal Center Library’s Bibliographic Databases (Arabic only) or Services for Researchers. Researchers can also visit the Library between Sunday and Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm. Please note that visiting researchers must bring with them a letter of introduction from their organization addressed to the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies. Accessing audio and audio-visual materials also requires pre-booking an appointment. 

Contact: is@kfcris.com 

Phone: 0114162200 / 0114555504  Ext. 502

• Disclosing Qasida poem about rain (Twitter, Arabic), January 18, 2022.

• Disclosing Two qasida poems on the occasion of the 91st Saudi National Day, September 23, 2021.