The Centre was established in 1960 by Professor Arthur John Arberry to foster an interest in the Middle East, particularly the modern Middle East, among Cambridge scholars, students and the general public, and to promote research. Since 1969, it has been part of the Faculty of Oriental Studies (Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies since 2007). In the decades since its foundation, the Centre has broadened its remit to include promoting Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies in general by organising lectures, conferences and other events and forming links with projects working on Middle Eastern and Islamic topics. It is not a teaching institution but it is closely connected to the Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies teaching section in the Faculty. It has an office and reading room in the Faculty and a library collection housed in the Faculty Library. It has had the following changes of name: Middle East Centre 1960-86; Centre of Middle Eastern Studies 1986-2002; Centre of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies 2002-8; Centre of Islamic Studies 2008- .