diff --git a/docs/api/defs.md b/docs/api/defs.md
index 01490fec..19176249 100755
--- a/docs/api/defs.md
+++ b/docs/api/defs.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ native_image(<a href="#native_image-name">name</a>, <a href="#native_image-deps"
              <a href="#native_image-jni_configuration">jni_configuration</a>, <a href="#native_image-initialize_at_build_time">initialize_at_build_time</a>, <a href="#native_image-initialize_at_run_time">initialize_at_run_time</a>, <a href="#native_image-native_features">native_features</a>,
              <a href="#native_image-debug">debug</a>, <a href="#native_image-optimization_mode">optimization_mode</a>, <a href="#native_image-shared_library">shared_library</a>, <a href="#native_image-static_zlib">static_zlib</a>, <a href="#native_image-c_compiler_option">c_compiler_option</a>, <a href="#native_image-data">data</a>,
              <a href="#native_image-extra_args">extra_args</a>, <a href="#native_image-allow_fallback">allow_fallback</a>, <a href="#native_image-check_toolchains">check_toolchains</a>, <a href="#native_image-native_image_tool">native_image_tool</a>, <a href="#native_image-native_image_settings">native_image_settings</a>,
-             <a href="#native_image-profiles">profiles</a>, <a href="#native_image-kwargs">kwargs</a>)
+             <a href="#native_image-profiles">profiles</a>, <a href="#native_image-out_headers">out_headers</a>, <a href="#native_image-additional_outputs">additional_outputs</a>, <a href="#native_image-default_outputs">default_outputs</a>, <a href="#native_image-kwargs">kwargs</a>)
 </pre>
 
 Generates and compiles a GraalVM native image from a Java library target.
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ Generates and compiles a GraalVM native image from a Java library target.
 | <a id="native_image-native_image_tool"></a>native_image_tool |  Specific `native-image` executable target to use.   |  `None` |
 | <a id="native_image-native_image_settings"></a>native_image_settings |  Suite(s) of Native Image build settings to use.   |  `[Label("@rules_graalvm//internal/native_image:defaults")]` |
 | <a id="native_image-profiles"></a>profiles |  Profiles to use for profile-guided optimization (PGO) and obtained from a native image compiled with `--pgo-instrument`.   |  `[]` |
+| <a id="native_image-out_headers"></a>out_headers |  Shared library headers expected to be emitted by the rule (in addition to defaults).   |  `[]` |
+| <a id="native_image-additional_outputs"></a>additional_outputs |  Additional outputs to expect from the rule (for example, polyglot language resources).   |  `[]` |
+| <a id="native_image-default_outputs"></a>default_outputs |  Whether to consider default output files; when `False`, the developer specifies all outputs on top of the binary itself.   |  `True` |
 | <a id="native_image-kwargs"></a>kwargs |  Extra keyword arguments are passed to the underlying `native_image` rule.   |  none |
 
 
diff --git a/graalvm/nativeimage/rules.bzl b/graalvm/nativeimage/rules.bzl
index 45ba9a7a..de004920 100644
--- a/graalvm/nativeimage/rules.bzl
+++ b/graalvm/nativeimage/rules.bzl
@@ -4,9 +4,12 @@ load(
     "@bazel_skylib//lib:dicts.bzl",
     "dicts",
 )
+load(
+    "@bazel_tools//tools/cpp:toolchain_utils.bzl",
+    "use_cpp_toolchain",
+)
 load(
     "//internal/native_image:rules.bzl",
-    _BAZEL_CPP_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE = "BAZEL_CPP_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE",
     _DEBUG = "DEBUG_CONDITION",
     _GVM_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE = "GVM_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE",
     _NATIVE_IMAGE_ATTRS = "NATIVE_IMAGE_ATTRS",
@@ -53,8 +56,7 @@ _native_image = rule(
         "platform",
         "xcode",
     ],
-    toolchains = [
-        _BAZEL_CPP_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE,
+    toolchains = use_cpp_toolchain() + [
         _GVM_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE,
     ],
 )
@@ -83,6 +85,9 @@ def native_image(
         native_image_tool = None,  # uses toolchains by default
         native_image_settings = [_DEFAULT_NATIVE_IMAGE_SETTINGS],
         profiles = [],
+        out_headers = [],
+        additional_outputs = [],
+        default_outputs = True,
         **kwargs):
     """Generates and compiles a GraalVM native image from a Java library target.
 
@@ -111,10 +116,14 @@ def native_image(
         data: Data files to make available during the compilation. No default; optional.
         extra_args: Extra `native-image` args to pass. Last wins. No default; optional.
         allow_fallback: Whether to allow fall-back to a partial native image; defaults to `False`.
+        out_headers: Shared library headers expected to be emitted by the rule (in addition to defaults).
+        additional_outputs: Additional outputs to expect from the rule (for example, polyglot language resources).
         check_toolchains: Whether to perform toolchain checks in `native-image`; defaults to `True` on Windows, `False` otherwise.
         native_image_tool: Specific `native-image` executable target to use.
         native_image_settings: Suite(s) of Native Image build settings to use.
         profiles: Profiles to use for profile-guided optimization (PGO) and obtained from a native image compiled with `--pgo-instrument`.
+        default_outputs: Whether to consider default output files; when `False`, the developer specifies all outputs on top of the
+            binary itself.
         **kwargs: Extra keyword arguments are passed to the underlying `native_image` rule.
     """
 
@@ -141,5 +150,8 @@ def native_image(
         native_image_tool = native_image_tool,
         native_image_settings = native_image_settings,
         profiles = profiles,
+        out_headers = out_headers,
+        additional_outputs = additional_outputs,
+        default_outputs = default_outputs,
         **kwargs
     )
diff --git a/internal/native_image/classic.bzl b/internal/native_image/classic.bzl
index f7a78756..82699f47 100644
--- a/internal/native_image/classic.bzl
+++ b/internal/native_image/classic.bzl
@@ -50,13 +50,14 @@ def _graal_binary_classic_implementation(ctx):
     )
 
     args = ctx.actions.args()
-    binary = _prepare_native_image_rule_context(
+    outputs = _prepare_native_image_rule_context(
         ctx,
         args,
         classpath_depset,
         direct_inputs,
         native_toolchain.c_compiler_path,
     )
+    binary = outputs[0]
 
     inputs = depset(
         direct_inputs,
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ def _graal_binary_classic_implementation(ctx):
     )
 
     ctx.actions.run(
-        outputs = [binary],
+        outputs = outputs,
         arguments = [args],
         executable = graal,
         inputs = inputs,
diff --git a/internal/native_image/common.bzl b/internal/native_image/common.bzl
index f13132ea..4dc0e84c 100644
--- a/internal/native_image/common.bzl
+++ b/internal/native_image/common.bzl
@@ -8,11 +8,12 @@ load(
 _RULES_REPO = "@rules_graalvm"
 _DEFAULT_GVM_REPO = "@graalvm"
 _GVM_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE = "%s//graalvm/toolchain" % _RULES_REPO
-_BAZEL_CPP_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE = "@bazel_tools//tools/cpp:toolchain_type"
 _BAZEL_CURRENT_CPP_TOOLCHAIN = "@bazel_tools//tools/cpp:current_cc_toolchain"
 _LINUX_CONSTRAINT = "@platforms//os:linux"
 _MACOS_CONSTRAINT = "@platforms//os:macos"
 _WINDOWS_CONSTRAINT = "@platforms//os:windows"
+_GRAALVM_ISOLATE_HEADER = "graal_isolate.h"
+_GRAALVM_ISOLATE_DYNAMIC_HEADER = "graal_isolate_dynamic.h"
 
 # buildifier: disable=name-conventions
 _NativeImageOptimization = struct(
@@ -113,6 +114,11 @@ _NATIVE_IMAGE_ATTRS = {
         allow_files = True,
         mandatory = False,
     ),
+    "out_headers": attr.output_list(),
+    "additional_outputs": attr.output_list(),
+    "default_outputs": attr.bool(
+        default = True,
+    ),
     "_cc_toolchain": attr.label(
         default = Label(_BAZEL_CURRENT_CPP_TOOLCHAIN),
     ),
@@ -154,6 +160,9 @@ def _prepare_native_image_rule_context(
     out_bin_name = ctx.attr.executable_name.replace("%target%", ctx.attr.name)
     binary = ctx.actions.declare_file(_prepare_bin_name(out_bin_name, bin_postfix))
 
+    additional_outputs = []
+    outputs = [binary]
+
     # TODO: This check really should be on the exec platform, not the target platform, but that
     # requires going through a separate rule. Since GraalVM doesn't support cross-compilation, the
     # distinction doesn't matter for now.
@@ -162,6 +171,25 @@ def _prepare_native_image_rule_context(
     else:
         path_list_separator = ":"
 
+    # if we are building a shared library, headers will be emitted; by default, the `graal_isolate.h`
+    # and `graal_isolate_dynamic.h` files are included. additional headers can be added by the `out_headers`
+    # attribute.
+    if ctx.attr.shared_library and ctx.attr.default_outputs:
+        additional_outputs.append(_GRAALVM_ISOLATE_HEADER)
+        additional_outputs.append(_GRAALVM_ISOLATE_DYNAMIC_HEADER)
+
+    # append all additional outputs
+    if len(additional_outputs) > 0:
+        outputs.extend([ctx.actions.declare_file(f) for f in additional_outputs])
+
+    # append all out headers
+    if len(ctx.attr.out_headers) > 0:
+        outputs.extend(ctx.outputs.out_headers)
+
+    # append all attr additional outputs
+    if len(ctx.attr.additional_outputs) > 0:
+        outputs.extend(ctx.outputs.additional_outputs)
+
     _assemble_native_build_options(
         ctx,
         args,
@@ -173,7 +201,7 @@ def _prepare_native_image_rule_context(
         gvm_toolchain,
         bin_postfix,
     )
-    return binary
+    return outputs
 
 ## Exports.
 
@@ -186,7 +214,6 @@ DEBUG_CONDITION = _DEBUG_CONDITION
 COVERAGE_CONDITION = _COVERAGE_CONDITION
 OPTIMIZATION_MODE_CONDITION = _OPTIMIZATION_MODE_CONDITION
 GVM_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE = _GVM_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE
-BAZEL_CPP_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE = _BAZEL_CPP_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE
 BAZEL_CURRENT_CPP_TOOLCHAIN = _BAZEL_CURRENT_CPP_TOOLCHAIN
 MACOS_CONSTRAINT = _MACOS_CONSTRAINT
 WINDOWS_CONSTRAINT = _WINDOWS_CONSTRAINT
diff --git a/internal/native_image/rules.bzl b/internal/native_image/rules.bzl
index 5841baff..b009c110 100644
--- a/internal/native_image/rules.bzl
+++ b/internal/native_image/rules.bzl
@@ -4,9 +4,12 @@ load(
     "@build_bazel_apple_support//lib:apple_support.bzl",
     "apple_support",
 )
+load(
+    "@bazel_tools//tools/cpp:toolchain_utils.bzl",
+    "find_cpp_toolchain",
+)
 load(
     "//internal/native_image:common.bzl",
-    _BAZEL_CPP_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE = "BAZEL_CPP_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE",
     _BAZEL_CURRENT_CPP_TOOLCHAIN = "BAZEL_CURRENT_CPP_TOOLCHAIN",
     _DEBUG_CONDITION = "DEBUG_CONDITION",
     _DEFAULT_GVM_REPO = "DEFAULT_GVM_REPO",
@@ -103,7 +106,7 @@ def _graal_binary_implementation(ctx):
         bin_postfix = _BIN_POSTFIX_SO
 
     args = ctx.actions.args().use_param_file("@%s", use_always=False)
-    binary = _prepare_native_image_rule_context(
+    all_outputs = _prepare_native_image_rule_context(
         ctx,
         args,
         classpath_depset,
@@ -112,6 +115,7 @@ def _graal_binary_implementation(ctx):
         gvm_toolchain,
         bin_postfix = bin_postfix,
     )
+    binary = all_outputs[0]
 
     # assemble final inputs
     inputs = depset(
@@ -119,7 +123,7 @@ def _graal_binary_implementation(ctx):
         transitive = transitive_inputs,
     )
     run_params = {
-        "outputs": [binary],
+        "outputs": all_outputs,
         "executable": graal,
         "inputs": inputs,
         "mnemonic": "NativeImage",
@@ -159,14 +163,50 @@ def _graal_binary_implementation(ctx):
             **run_params
         )
 
-    return [DefaultInfo(
+    # if we are building a shared library, prepare `CcSharedLibraryInfo` for it
+    cc_info = []
+    runfiles = None
+    if ctx.attr.shared_library:
+        cc_toolchain = find_cpp_toolchain(ctx)
+        feature_configuration = cc_common.configure_features(
+            ctx = ctx,
+            cc_toolchain = cc_toolchain,
+            requested_features = ctx.features,
+            unsupported_features = ctx.disabled_features,
+        )
+        libraries_to_link = [
+            cc_common.create_library_to_link(
+                actions = ctx.actions,
+                feature_configuration = feature_configuration,
+                cc_toolchain = cc_toolchain,
+                dynamic_library = binary,
+            ),
+        ]
+        cc_info.extend([
+            OutputGroupInfo(
+                main_shared_library_output = depset([binary]),
+            ),
+            CcSharedLibraryInfo(
+                linker_input = cc_common.create_linker_input(
+                    owner = ctx.label,
+                    libraries = depset(libraries_to_link),
+                ),
+            ),
+        ])
+
+    # prepare all runfiles
+    all_runfiles = ctx.runfiles(
+        collect_data = True,
+        collect_default = True,
+        files = [],
+    )
+    if runfiles != None:
+        all_runfiles = all_runfiles.merge(runfiles)
+
+    return cc_info + [DefaultInfo(
         executable = binary,
-        files = depset([binary]),
-        runfiles = ctx.runfiles(
-            collect_data = True,
-            collect_default = True,
-            files = [],
-        ),
+        files = depset(all_outputs),
+        runfiles = all_runfiles,
     )]
 
 def _wrap_actions_for_graal(actions):
@@ -198,7 +238,6 @@ def _wrapped_run_for_graal(_original_actions, arguments = [], env = {}, **kwargs
 RULES_REPO = _RULES_REPO
 DEFAULT_GVM_REPO = _DEFAULT_GVM_REPO
 BAZEL_CURRENT_CPP_TOOLCHAIN = _BAZEL_CURRENT_CPP_TOOLCHAIN
-BAZEL_CPP_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE = _BAZEL_CPP_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE
 NATIVE_IMAGE_ATTRS = _NATIVE_IMAGE_ATTRS
 GVM_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE = _GVM_TOOLCHAIN_TYPE
 DEBUG_CONDITION = _DEBUG_CONDITION