Sharjah Museum's Islamic art masterpieces exhibit opens
MUSCAT: The National Museum, in partnership with the Sharjah Museums Authority, launched the 'Masterpieces of Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation' exhibition. Held under the auspices of Salim bin Mohammed al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum, and in the presence of Shaikh Sultan bin Ahmed al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, the exhibition offers visitors a rare opportunity to explore 82 masterpieces of Islamic art, some displayed outside the UAE for the first time.
Among the unique pieces featured are the first Quran printed with lithographic technology and a silver cup bearing the tughra of Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II, highlighting the lasting influence of Islamic art across the ages.
Jamal bin Hassan al Mousawi, Secretary-General of the National Museum, noted that this exhibition marks an extension of the ongoing cultural collaboration between Oman and the UAE. 'This exhibition represents a new chapter following the success of the 'Omani Civilisation: Origins and Development' exhibition in Sharjah in 2023,' Al Moosawi said. He added, 'It showcases the scientific and artistic achievements of Islamic civilisation, which continues to inspire creativity and innovation today.'
The exhibition is divided into three distinct sections, each offering a deep dive into the arts and innovations that flourished during Islamic civilisation:
Arts of Calligraphy: Featuring rare Islamic manuscripts, Quranic pages and historic items such as curtains from the Prophet's Mosque and Kiswa (Kaaba covering), this section highlights the development of Arabic calligraphy and its role in religious and artistic expression. Additionally, it includes Islamic coins from the Umayyad and Abbasid periods, showcasing the art of calligraphic engraving on currency.
Sharjah Museum's Islamic art masterpieces exhibit opens
Science and Innovation: This section honours the groundbreaking contributions of Muslim scholars in fields such as astronomy, medicine and engineering, displaying artefacts like astrolabes, celestial globes and medical manuscripts. Visitors can also view tools used by Muslim physicians in the Middle Ages, reflecting the contributions of Islamic science to global knowledge.
Harmony and Diversity: Focusing on the aesthetic diversity of Islamic art, this section highlights geometric, floral and pictorial motifs that emerged between the 2nd and 14th centuries AH/28th century AD. These artworks reflect the cultural exchanges and trade influences that shaped Islamic civilisation over centuries.
Aisha Rashid Ali Bin Deemas, Director-General of the Sharjah Museums Authority, expressed pride in this collaboration, emphasising the importance of cultural diplomacy in strengthening ties between Oman and the UAE. 'This exhibition is a testament to the shared Islamic heritage that unites our peoples and fosters greater understanding through art,' she said.
The exhibition also offers an interactive experience for visitors, with digital demonstrations and interpretive panels that provide insight into the historical and cultural context of each piece. Additionally, guided programmes and workshops will help visitors engage more deeply with the rich history of Islamic art.
Running until May 3, the 'Masterpieces of Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation' exhibition is a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the artistic and scientific achievements of Islamic civilisation, highlighting the importance of cultural cooperation between museums in preserving this invaluable heritage for future generations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Times of Oman
Oman participates in 2nd Belt, Road Conference on Science, Technology Exchange
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman is participating in the 2nd Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange held in the People's Republic of China. The Omani delegation is headed by Dr. Rahma Ibrahim Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation. In her speech at the conference, Dr. Rahma emphasised the importance of international cooperation in science and technology, praising the Belt and Road Initiative's role in strengthening scientific and research partnerships among participating nations. She also highlighted Oman Vision 2040 and its key pillars, which align with the objectives of the Science and Technology Exchange Initiative under the Belt and Road framework. She noted Oman's key achievements since its first participation in the initiative, including the signing of an MoU on science and technology cooperation. This has led to several collaborative programs between Omani and Chinese universities, such as knowledge exchange in "smart campuses," enhanced scientific cooperation with Chinese private sector institutions—particularly global company Huawei—as well as student and researcher exchanges, and cultural cooperation through Chinese language education and Arabic teaching for non-native speakers. On the sidelines of the event, the Minister held talks with Lin Xin, Vice Minister of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, exploring ways to enhance scientific and technical exchange in priority research areas such as environmental sciences, food security, medicine, health sciences (including traditional medicine), and artificial intelligence. Discussions also covered expertise exchange in marine and ocean sciences, genetic resources, and mutual invitations to scientific conferences, including the upcoming Arab-Chinese Conference scheduled in August 2025. Additionally, they reviewed cooperation in cultural exchange, teaching each country's language in higher education institutions, and increasing mutual recognition of academic credentials. During her visit to Sichuan University in Chengdu, the Minister explored potential collaboration in scientific and research programmes, particularly in creative arts. She also discussed partnership opportunities between Omani private higher education institutions and the Chinese university, including joint exhibitions, young researcher training, bilateral research projects, cultural student events, and cooperation in AI, IoT, and modern technologies.
Times of Oman
02-06-2025
- Times of Oman
Oman making efforts to be among top in global innovation index by 2030
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman is making dedicated efforts to support research and innovation, which has resulted in its advancement by 10 positions in the Global Innovation Index (GII) issued by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) over four years—rising from 84th to 74th place. Additionally, Oman improved its ranking in innovation outputs by 23 spots, moving from 109th to 86th. In this context, Dr. Saif Abdullah Al Haddabi, Undersecretary for Research and Innovation at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, affirmed to Oman News Agency (ONA) that the recent commendation by the World Bank for "Oman Vision 2040"—which places significant emphasis on human capital development, education quality enhancement, and fostering a culture of research and innovation—reflects the concerted efforts of all relevant stakeholders working diligently to achieve the vision's goals. He stated that Oman, under "Oman Vision 2040," aims to rank among the top 40 countries in the Global Innovation Index by 2030 and among the top 20 by 2040. He explained that the innovation index is one of the most critical indicators in "Oman Vision 2040," as it influences competitiveness and other key metrics. The index is measured by WIPO, drawing data from the World Bank, UNESCO, and 13 other global institutions. At the national level, he noted, the index is measured through infrastructure and digital framework programs. This includes research centers such as the Muscat Innovation Complex as an established infrastructure, as well as Oman Research and Education Network (OMREN), which covers nearly 99% of institutions and connects all universities and colleges in Oman, offering over 23 services. He highlighted the development of digital infrastructure through Oman Research Portal, an integrated digital platform managing research programs—evaluating, funding, and tracking their performance. Additionally, efforts are underway to establish a research equipment platform cataloging and classifying research tools used by academics, industrial institutions, and other stakeholders. Al Haddabi added that the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation implements numerous programs supporting scientific research in Oman, categorized into three main initiatives targeting academic, governmental, and industrial sectors. The Scientific Publishing Program, he noted, serves as an international benchmark for knowledge production, tracking publications in prestigious scientific journals. This programme enhances Oman's standing in the Global Innovation Index's knowledge output metrics. Since 2018, the Ministry has funded 2,228 research projects under the Academic Sector Research Support Program ("Performance-Based Institutional Funding"), including 475 projects last year worth approximately OMR2.4 million. Under the Strategic Research Programme for the government sector, addressing institutional challenges, 74 projects were funded, while the Industrial Sector's "Ijada" Program supported 61 projects with a total investment of OMR2.5 million. Al Haddabi emphasised that these integrated programmes, initiatives, and funding mechanisms collectively advance "Oman Vision 2040" objectives, elevate Oman's global rankings, and enhance the efficiency of national research and innovation. As for innovation and capacity-building programmes, he outlined 13 initiatives, including the National Program for Supporting Innovation Centres in Higher Education, the Student Graduation Projects to Startups Program, the Falling Walls Competition, and national research awards honouring scholars across sectors. Omani innovators and researchers also participate in international competitions such as the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, the Kuala Lumpur International Invention Awards, and the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. He touched on the four pillars of the National Innovation Strategy, namely Knowledge-Based Economic Diversification (Transforming traditional products into high-value outputs using technology and knowledge), Human Capital (Investing in education, skills, and cognitive development to foster innovative solutions), Institutional Integration (Strengthening collaboration among government, academic, and industrial entities to address national challenges) and Intellectual Property (IP) (Protecting innovators' rights and patents to ensure long-term investment in innovation, where IP assets like patents are key intangible resources for licensing or commercialization). On future plans, he stated that the Ministry is implementing structured strategies to support academic innovation through establishment and empowerment pathways, including six university incubators. Programs are designed to be flexible and scalable for maximum researcher and innovator benefit. Upcoming initiatives include launching "Oman Innovates," a national platform centralizing innovation services—facilitating access to support, registration, funding, and investor connections—to serve as Oman's digital innovation hub. In conclusion, Al Haddabi underscored the media's vital role in promoting scientific and innovation culture, which is fundamental to nurturing a generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. He observed growing awareness in schools and universities through competitions and events, reflecting the nation's progressive strides in research and innovation.
Times of Oman
02-06-2025
- Times of Oman
Muscat Municipality organises training programme in pest control
Muscat: In partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), Muscat Municipality successfully conducted a specialised training programme for the pest control professionals, from 18 May to 1 June 2025. This initiative is part of the Municipality's ongoing efforts to build national expertise in vector control and raise public health standards across the Governorate. Aligned with the latest international standards and best practices, the programme was designed to train the national workforce and field operatives in pest control. It offered a comprehensive approach, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application. It focused on pest identification, risk assessment, and the implementation of integrated, sustainable, and environmentally conscious control strategies. The initiative included a series of scientific lectures and on-site workshops delivered by leading international experts from the WHO. Skilled professionals across the wilayats of Muscat Governorate participated in these sessions, contributing to a dynamic and engaging training environment. 'The collaboration with the WHO underscores Muscat Municipality's commitment to strengthening partnerships with global institutions and capitalising on their expertise across various fields. It enables us to adopt world-class public health practices and further develop the skills and capabilities of our national workforce, contributing directly to national efforts to mitigate health risks and improve quality of life. "We remain steadfast in our investment in human capital, which forms the foundation of the sustainable urban development we aspire to,' said His Excellency Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Humaidi, Chairman of Muscat Municipality. Notably, this programme marks a significant milestone in Muscat Municipality's strategy to establish an effective and enduring pest control system aligned with public health objectives and national priorities. The Municipality also reaffirmed its commitment to enhance cooperation with international organisations, advance knowledge exchange, and launch further specialised training initiatives. Ultimately, this approach will empower national talent and elevate municipal services in line with the highest professional and scientific benchmarks.
