Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi

The Khalili Family Trust, under the passionate direction of Professor Nassar D. Khalili, holds 20,000 works in what is the largest and most comprehensive collection of Islamic art in the world beginning from the 7th century to the present day. Only 500 works are on display in Abu Dhabi, just a glimpse of what's to come in the future cultural strategy of the city as a rising international center for the arts.

Formed with a particular awareness of the criteria by which Muslims themselves have judged and still judge their art, a central place has been given to the art of calligraphy while also showcasing a variety of religious and secular arts of Islam such as science in the service of religion, minature paintings, carpets and textiles, among others.

Many of the works have never been exhibited before such as a panoramic watercolor of Mecca, painted in 1843, which is the earliest known visual record of the Holy City.

January 23 to April 30, 2008
Emirates Palace Hotel
P.O. Box 39999
West End Corniche,
Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates
Tel. +971 2 690 9000