Welcome to Qatar National Library!
Qatar National Library (QNL) serves as the guardian of Qatar’s documentary heritage, dedicated to collecting, preserving, and providing access to the nation’s recorded history. As a research library with a distinguished heritage collection, QNL fosters deeper global understanding of the history and culture of the Gulf region. In its role as a public library, QNL ensures equitable access for all residents of Qatar to an inclusive environment that encourages creativity, informed decision-making, and cultural enrichment. Through these core functions, QNL plays a leading role in shaping and supporting Qatar’s library and cultural heritage landscape.
Aligned with Qatar’s vision of transitioning towards a knowledge-based, sustainable economy, the Library contributes to national development by empowering students, researchers, and the wider public through access to knowledge, support for lifelong learning, and community engagement.
QNL’s collections include over one million print books, in addition to more than 500,000 digital resources—ebooks, journals, newspapers, and rare items held in its special collections. Its librarians bring expertise in research support, literacy, programming, and knowledge management, offering a wide array of services and events that inspire discovery, learning, and innovation within the community.
The establishment of the Library was announced on 19 November 2012 by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation. QNL was officially designated as the national library under Amiri Decree No. 11, issued on 20 March 2018. The Library was formally inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, during a grand opening ceremony held on 16 April 2018.