The Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre of Islamic Studies

The Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre of Islamic Studies (CIS) was established in 2008 to replace the Centre of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (CMEIS). CMEIS was founded in 1960 by Professor Arthur Arberry to foster an interest in the Middle East, particularly the modern Middle East, amongst Cambridge scholars, students and the general public, and to support research.

The Centre of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies played an active role in promoting Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies amongst academics and the public through lectures, seminars and conferences. The Centre also helped to establish and develop links between individuals and institutions with an interest in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies. The Centre further encouraged communication between academics, the media and the public. The Centre's library collection is located within the Faculty Library and forms part of the Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies teaching collection. Its holdings are distinguished by their emphasis on the history, politics and economics of the modern Middle East. The library holds a collection of journals, economic and political reports, newspapers received regularly from the Middle East and also a small closed archive containing the documents and photographic collection of Bertram Thomas who travelled in the Arabian Peninsula in the 1930's.

The Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre of Islamic Studies will build on these strengths to enable the development of a constructive and critical awareness of the role of Islam in wider society, initially through research programmes about Islam in the United Kingdom and Europe. High quality research and an energetic outreach programme to interact with policy-makers and wider society will therefore be high priorities for the new Centre.

The Centre of Islamic Studies is supported by a generous donation from HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal.

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