In 1969, Palestinian-born Dr. Abdel-Wahab Al-Kayyali founded his publishing house in Beirut called the Arab Institute for Research & Publishing. Since its creation, the house has published intellectual works on subjects pertaining to the Arab nations, and more particularly, Palestine. It initially had branches in Cairo, Baghdad, and London, and was considered a pioneer with publications of encyclopedias about politics, the military, or philosophy. The Arab Institute for Research & Publishing continued to publish despite the outbreak of the Lebanese civil war. In 1981, Dr. Al Kayyali was assassinated in his office in Beirut by unidentified gunmen. The company continues to publish 150 titles a year and maintains an office in Beirut and Amman, Jordan.