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Saudi Arabia opens first museum dedicated to Islamic art
More than 1,000 artefacts feature across six galleries
Jeddah’s House of Islamic Arts has opened as Saudi Arabia’s first museum dedicated exclusively to Islamic art, joining a select group of institutions worldwide that focus solely on this discipline.
The museum is located in Jeddah Park, a vibrant destination in a city that has long served as the historic gateway to Makkah, the birthplace of Islam and the Prophet Mohammed.
More than 1,000 rare artefacts have been gathered from across the Muslim world, including “a masterpiece in every hall that cannot be found elsewhere in the world”.
It is divided into six curated galleries, providing visitors with a journey through different aspects of Islamic heritage, from manuscripts to ceramics and textiles.
Among the notable collections, the first gallery spotlights ceramics and glassworks from the first to the 10th century AH (7th to the 16th century CE), spotlighting the development of handicrafts during that era.
Heritage artworks from between the first and 13th century AH are the focus of the second gallery, which is home to metalworks characterised by highly detailed decorations and engraved shapes.
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The third gallery moves beyond just heritage and art to mapping out the economic history of Islamic societies, showcasing 500 coins that span the era of the Prophet Muhammad to the modern age.
With a focus on cultural exchange, the fourth gallery explores the role of Islamic art in the development of other civilisations, offering insight into how Islamic artistic traditions were integrated into European cultures.
Within the fifth gallery, visitors will find rare Quranic manuscripts dating back to the 2nd century AH alongside examples of calligraphy and wooden tablets that were once used by students memorising the Quran.
Finally, Islamic textiles are in focus on gallery six, where the interior and exterior coverings of the Kaaba are on display, as well as a rare Shammi Gate curtain from the Ottoman-era Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
Visitors can also access a specialised library with curated Arabic and English texts on Islamic heritage, literature and history.
According to the museum curator Mohammed Al-Kurbi, “The vision, in line with the wishes of founder Saleh bin Hamza Serafi, is for the institution to not only preserve but invite dialogue and research into Islamic art, positioning Jeddah as a hub for intercultural exchange.”
The House of Islamic Arts joins a rapidly expanding network of cultural landmarks launched across Saudi Arabia under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy, which champions cultural enrichment and international exchange.
The opening follows recent unveilings such as Diriyah Art Futures, located in Diriyah on the outskirts of Riyadh. Dedicated to digital art and emerging technologies, the institution was recently honoured with the Prix Versailles as one of the world’s most beautiful museums.
For more information, visit www.iarts.sa
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