SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre will officially open the Light & Peace Museum on Wednesday, the media forum of the museum announced on Tuesday.
The museum presents an engaging cultural experience, celebrating Islamic heritage, science, art, and the core principles of tolerance and peace.
During a press conference, Dr. Yousef Abdullah Al Obaidli, Director General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, outlined the vision behind the museum.
"The Light & Peace Museum aims to revive the treasures of Islamic civilisation, showcasing its diversity and richness, reflecting the epochs of profound intellectual depth in sciences, craftsmanship, and creativity in arts and literature," he stated.
Dr. Al Obaidli said that the museum symbolises the UAE’s commitment to peace, tolerance, as well as intercultural dialogue, embodying Islamic culture’s essence through unity, moderation, and mutual respect.
Spanning five cultural domains – historical, artistic, scientific, literary, and spiritual – the Light & Peace Museum presents over 350 cultural treasures, revealing the richness of Islamic civilisation.
The museum is designed to engage diverse groups, including families, scholars, and culture lovers.
Its multilingual content – Arabic, English, Mandarin, Spanish, French, Russian, and Urdu – provides access and engaging interactive features, with a special focus on children.
Five Key Sections
The Light & Peace Museum features five key sections that celebrate the richness of Islamic culture.
"Tolerance – A Guiding Light" focuses on the UAE’s values of coexistence and peace, rooted in the vision of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
"Sanctity and Worship – The Three Grand Mosques" explores the significance of Masjid al-Haram, the Prophet’s Mosque, and Al-Aqsa Mosque, this is along with their architectural and spiritual inspirations.
"Precision and Beauty – The Spirit of Invention" highlights the intellectual and scientific achievements of Islamic civilisation.
"Tolerance and Openness – Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque" features a model of the mosque, highlighting peace, tolerance, and cultural diversity.
Further, "Universal Coexistence" connects visitors to global unity through intricate floral designs, featuring the universal values of peace and coexistence.
Using 1.5 billion light units, the "Diya – A Universe of Light" experience takes visitors through UAE-inspired landscapes, spotlighting the country’s architectural and cultural significance, with its 360-degree sensory journey.
The experience is "an interactive adventure, a world of light. It is a sensory journey, where the visitor engages their senses of hearing and sight, discovering scattered stars in a welcoming space that leads them through an inspiring story," Ahmed Al Falahi from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre told Aletihad.
Speaking to Aletihad, Amina Al Hammadi, Acting Director of the Worshippers and Visitors Services Department at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, described the Light & Peace Museum as "a journey of faith, inspiration, and coexistence within Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque".
She explained that the museum offers "an immersive, tactile experience and rare artefacts", while telling the story of "coexistence and tolerance in the history of the UAE" and celebrating the core values of Islamic civilisation.
Al Hammadi highlighted that the museum’s mission is "to enrich the cultural landscape of the UAE, embody its vision, and preserve and highlight Islamic cultural heritage while providing access to it for both local and international communities".