King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies was established in 1983 to preserve and promote the many aspects of Islamic culture. Under the Centre s jurisdiction come four libraries, a manuscript preservation laboratory, an in-house printing press, and King Faisal Gallery. All library facilities and admission to King Faisal Gallery are free of charge.

The Centre also sponsors a number of lectures and symposia and hosts exhibitions highlighting Islamic heritage. Two of the Centre s long-term research projects include a 16-volume book of proverbs spanning the history of Arabic and Islamic literature and an Arabic encyclopaedia with more than 10,000 entries.