Qatar Digital Library digitises 2 million pages of historical and cultural heritage

Doha: The Qatar Digital Library (QDL) is the world’s largest digital archive in the history of the Middle East. It was launched in October 2014 as part of a partnership between Qatar National Library, Qatar Foundation and the British Library. This month, the QDL uploaded its two-millionth page––a major milestone in Qatar National Library’s efforts to preserve and share the region’s history and heritage. 

The QDL hosts the world’s largest collection of historical reports, letters, manuscripts, maps, photographs and sound recordings on the Gulf, Arabian Peninsula, and neighboring regions––all free to access for users worldwide. This material is accompanied by contextualized explanatory notes in both English and Arabic, making it an invaluable resource for researchers and anyone interested in the history and heritage of the region. The QDL also offers expert articles on the historical material it contains, giving readers a deeper look into the region’s past and people. Since its launch, the QDL has been used heavily by scholars, students and the public around the world for both academic purposes and general interest.