Designed by Rem Koolhaas, the 45,000-square-meter building resembles two pieces of paper that are pulled apart and folded diagonally at the corners to create a shell-like structure, enclosing the open-plan interior.

Its growing collection includes rare and valuable archival documents, books, and periodicals in various European languages; early Arabic printed materials, such as books, journals, magazines, and newspapers; and Arabic manuscripts, maps, atlases, globes, historical photographs, and instruments and tools related to travel.

The library has numerous facilities for individual and group collaboration, research, and study. These include:

• Assistive technology room including 16 computer stations with adjustable leveling, equipped with cutting-edge hardware and software technologies
• A 200-seat Special Events Area with lights, an LED screen, speakers, and noise-dampening curtains
• A dedicated area for young adults
• A 686-square-meter Children’s Library
• 4-room Innovation Station
• 2 instruction rooms
• A computer lab
• 8 group study rooms
• 28 individual study carrels
• 3 media viewing rooms
• 26 large interactive screens and 465 computers
• A 120-seat auditorium
• A restaurant and a café