Qatar National Library (QNL) reported a record 1.25 million visits in 2025, marking the highest annual attendance since its opening. The library’s growing research infrastructure, highlighted by the launch of a new database dedicated to Qatar-focused studies, has reinforced its status as a key center for both scholarship and public reading.
Fatima H al-Sahli, head of the Stacks Maintenance Unit within QNL’s Public Engagement Department, described the facility as a significant resource for students, graduates, and researchers across the country. In 2025, QNL introduced the Qatar Research Collection, a database compiling nearly 70,000 research records centered on Qatar, of which over 25,000 are freely accessible through open access.
Additionally, the library’s Marana research repository surpassed 10,000 items and recorded more than 1.5 million views and downloads. QNL also supported the publication of 1,423 open access articles authored by 809 researchers affiliated with 29 institutions in Qatar, demonstrating its commitment to fostering knowledge creation and dissemination.
Al-Sahli emphasized that QNL functions as more than a traditional lending library, providing advanced research tools and services unavailable elsewhere in the region. University students and postgraduate researchers gain access to thousands of international academic databases, journals, and digital materials that often require costly subscriptions. The library also offers personalized consultations, research methodology guidance, and access to rare and heritage collections housed in its Heritage Library.
The physical collection at QNL includes over one million titles across a wide range of subjects, catering to readers of all ages and interests. The library’s holdings encompass world literature, history, science, business, and children’s books, supporting diverse needs from casual reading to academic research.
Through these initiatives, Qatar National Library continues to expand its role as a national hub for knowledge, learning, and cultural preservation.