Today's Edition
AMEINAH AL ZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), in collaboration with McGill University in Canada, has launched the travelling exhibition “Golden Ink: A Journey through Arabic and Islamic Manuscripts” at Qasr Al Watan. The six-month exhibition got underway on Tuesday and will later move to Montreal.
Bringing together rare manuscripts from McGill University, the Zayed National Museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, private UAE collections, and Abu Dhabi Libraries, the exhibition traces the evolution of Arabic script and highlights the artistic and scholarly traditions of the Islamic world.
The exhibition’s opening location, Qasr Al Watan, was chosen with consideration due to its cultural and symbolic importance. The Palace, a national symbol, stands for the UAE’s dedication to education, tolerance, and cross-cultural communication.
“We are hosting it here in Beit Al-Ma’rifah, in Qasr Al Watan, because the Arab and Islamic culture is part of the legacy of the UAE,” said Doaa Nounou, Curator of Manuscripts at DCT. “This is a means of conserving that legacy and teaching the next generation about it.”
The exhibition explores several themes, including the development of Arabic calligraphy, the art of manuscript illumination, and the scholarly interactions found in marginal notes. It also examines how printing technology reshaped the preservation and sharing of knowledge.
“There is a clear path for preserving the Islamic and Arab heritage,” Nounou said. “Part of that aim is to host international exhibitions like this one, bringing in collections that have never been seen in this region of the world.”
Among the highlights is McGill University’s participation – Its historic scientific and natural history manuscripts are being shown outside Canada for the first time.
Most of the works on display are drawn from Abu Dhabi’s growing collections, reflecting the city’s position as a regional hub for cultural exchange and heritage preservation.
Developed jointly by Emirati and Canadian experts over 18 months, “Golden Ink” aims to connect cultures and showcase the enduring influence of Islamic scholarship on global knowledge.
