The UAE is once again opening its doors to artists, poets, and calligraphers from around the world through the 2026 Al Burda Award, a cultural initiative that continues to celebrate the richness of Islamic art while encouraging new creative voices.
The UAE is once again opening its doors to artists, poets, and calligraphers from around the world through the 2026 Al Burda Award, a cultural initiative that continues to celebrate the richness of Islamic art while encouraging new creative voices.
This spring, the Museum of Islamic Art presents one of the region’s most significant cultural exhibitions of 2026 with “Empire of Light: Visions and Voices of Afghanistan,” a major showcase exploring more than five thousand years of Afghan artistic and cultural history.
When Louvre Abu Dhabi announced “Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire”, it signaled far more than another major exhibition—it opened a gateway to one of the most powerful and artistically rich eras in Islamic history. Running from 17 September 2025 to 25 January 2026, the exhibition brings together over 250 masterpieces, revealing the extraordinary legacy of a dynasty that shaped the Middle East and echoed across continents.
When Louvre Abu Dhabi announced “Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire”, it signaled far more than another major exhibition—it opened a gateway to one of the most powerful and artistically rich eras in Islamic history. Running from 17 September 2025 to 25 January 2026, the exhibition brings together over 250 masterpieces, revealing the extraordinary legacy of a dynasty that shaped the Middle East and echoed across continents.
A 12th-century candlestick broke the record for an Islamic piece at Sotheby's after it was sold as part of the Art of the Islamic World and India auction this week.