Saudi Arabia has revealed a rare Quran manuscript believed to be about a thousand years old, marking another step in its efforts to preserve and highlight early Islamic heritage, according to the Gulf News.

The manuscript, dating to the fourth century, consists of 23 folios measuring 17 by 22 cm. It is written in clear Andalusian script, with the names of surahs inscribed in Kufic script, and remains an unpublished work.

According to Gulf News, the artefact is part of a broader push to catalogue and display rare religious texts, drawing renewed scholarly and public attention to historical Holy Quran collections in Saudi Arabia.

The manuscript is considered an important example of early Quranic writing, offering valuable insight into how the text and calligraphic styles developed during the classical Islamic period.

Officials emphasise that the find reflects the rich depth of preserved Islamic manuscripts in the region—many of which date back centuries and continue to support research into the history and transmission of the Quran.

Comparable early manuscripts discovered in places like Yemen have also been crucial in helping scholars understand how the Quran was recorded and passed down through generations.

The unveiling ties into wider cultural efforts in Saudi Arabia to promote Islamic heritage and encourage deeper study of rare and historically significant texts.