Abdulaziz al-Rifai

Abdulaziz Bin Ahmad al-Rifai (1924-1993) was a writer, researcher, poet, and one of the literary figures of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He was among the founders of Alam al-Kutub Magazine, a local magazine specialized in introducing, critiquing, and evaluating books. He established the weekly 'al-Rifai Forum', one of the oldest cultural forums in Saudi Arabia, which continued for nearly thirty years.

Abdulaziz Bin Ahmed al-Rifai was born in Umluj Governorate and moved with his family to Makkah al-Mukarramah in 1933 where he pursued his studies and completed elementary school while simultaneously studying Quranic interpretation, grammar, and Quran recitation at the Grand Mosque. After nearly three years, he graduated from the Saudi Scientific Institute and was appointed a teacher at al-Aziziyah Elementary School. He later transitioned from teaching to administrative work in the Directorate of Knowledge and then to the Directorate of Public Security as a secretary to the director general.

Abdulaziz Bin Ahmad al-Rifai served as an advisor with excellent rank to the Saudi Royal Court during the reign of King Khalid Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and as the director of the Political Division during the reign of King Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. He left his mark on several cultural and scientific institutions in Saudi Arabia. He was a member of the Higher Committee for the Establishment of Education, the Founding Council of the Muslim World League, the Board of Directors of King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), and a member of the Shura Council. He also contributed to the first Saudi Writers Conference in 1974.

Abdulaziz Bin Ahmad al-Rifai focused on literature, heritage, and history. Driven by this passion, he founded Dar al-Rifai for Publication, Printing, and Distribution, which enriched libraries with numerous sources and references. As part of his cultural and encyclopedic project, he introduced the concept of al-Maktabah al-Sagheerah (the Small Library), which aimed to publish simplified, concise publications with significant knowledge and cultural impact, targeting to print distinguished lectures, seminars, and studies. Al-Rifai was also the first Director General of Al Yamamah Press.

Abdulaziz Bin Ahmad al-Rifai wrote in various fields, including journalistic articles of different types, and contributed to research and studies in history and heritage. Alongside his poetic talent, he published three collections, including Thilaal wa-La Aghsaan (Shadows without Branches), and other poems were not compiled into a book but published in magazines and newspapers. He was known for avoiding repetitive and overused topics and issues and wrote approximately twenty books.

In 2020, his personal library, known as Abdulaziz al-Rifai Library, became affiliated with the King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries. The library was officially received by Governor of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province Faisal Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz after al-Rifai family donated it.