The Unit provides reference services on the Arab region, including official publications on various aspects of the region (economics, politics, development, social and cultural aspects and history). The holdings cover many different subject areas of interest to those who study the Middle East. Besides the Gulf Region it has strengths in general Middle East economics, politics, and history: particularly the history of the Gulf wars and the Arab-Israeli conflict, and of British and international involvement in the region, 18th century onwards.