The Arab Institute School was established during the Jordanian rule of the West Bank in Abu Dis town, located in Jerusalem district, but it did not go into operation until after the June War 1967, as its opening was officially announced in September 1967. Since its establishment, the School has aimed to provide educational services to the children of shaheeds, prisoners and refugees, as well as to orphaned children and children of poor families. In addition, the School has received students from all the West Bank cities, villages and refugee camps.

The Arab Institute- Abu Dis Collection contains a set of photographs; some of which document the foundation stage of the Institute building and visits by official figures to the Institute, while the others document training courses, student classes, and sports activities held at the Institute. The collection also contains documents, including the Institute newsletters, the construction schemes of the Institute building, the minutes of meetings held by the Private Schools Committee, which was established in 1985 in Jerusalem to protect education from Israeli control, in addition to a booklet containing an overview of the Institute.