Summary

• The Islamic Museum of Art in Cairo stands as one of the world’s premier institutions for Islamic heritage, showcasing over 100,000 artifacts across centuries.
• Located in the Bab Al-Khalq district, this Neo-Mamluk architectural marvel holds masterpieces from Egypt, Andalusia, Iran, and beyond, dating from the 7th to the 19th century.
• The museum’s rich collection spans calligraphy, astronomy, ceramics, manuscripts, textiles, and metalwork, reflecting the golden age of Islamic civilization.
• With its impressive history, immersive layout, and state-of-the-art restorations, the museum offers an enlightening journey into the artistry and intellectual brilliance of Islamic culture.

The Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo (MIA) is a cultural and artistic wonder that sheds light on the golden heritage of Islamic culture of Egypt that was cultivated in Egypt over 1400 years. It holds the ultimate coverage to shed light on the branches of Islamic Art across the ages, which in turn is the greatest beacon of Islamic civilization and art in existence. The museum offers a true passage across time that uncovers the rich skill and blessed imagination of the Islamic Egyptians who were able to craft some of the most beautiful and masterful collections of artifacts ever made.

It is by far one of the greatest Islamic museums on the face of the earth as it holds tens of thousands of artifacts that comes in great quality and quantity that provides the key to uncover the intricates of Islamic culture which are associated with Magnificat fields of Medicine, Horticulture, Surgery, architecture, and astronomy. It has many domains and halls that utilize a state of the art in interpretive technologies that offer the best experience of exploring the majesty and creativity of that golden time period.

Location and How to Get to the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo

The Islamic Museum of Art is located in the historic district of Cairo, which is situated in the Bab Al-Khalq area, in the heart of Cairo’s old city, with an address in Port Said Street, Ahmed Maher Pasha Square, Bab Al-Khalq, Cairo, Egypt.

Everyone can reach the Islamic Museum of Art through various means of transportation, located in the golden capital of Cairo. All can opt to take a taxi or a ride-sharing service to the museum. Alternatively, public buses and the Cairo Metro provide swift and safe accessibility to the area, with the closest metro station being Sadat Station, which is approximately a 15-minute walk from the museum.

Historical Significance of the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo

The creation of Islamic Museum was created by Khedive Ismail Pasha, who established the Ministry of Endowments, which approved the construction in 1880 that building an Islamic art Museum in the massive courtyard of the mosque of Baibars. The head of the technical department at the Awqaf, the Austrian scholar of Hungarian descent “Julius Franz” transformed the ruined mosque of the fatimid caliph Al Hakim in 1881 that is found next to the Bab Al Futuh which acted as a temporary seat for the museum which held a furnished gallery in the eastern arcade that held 111 architectural pieces.

The Khedive Tawfiq approved the creation of the Arab antiquities who was responsible for running the Arab museum that provided and preserved the current museum with several Objects. Around 1884, a story structure was made in the courtyard, which was made to house a massive collection of 900 objects that had one staff od one person who acted as a doorkeeper and curator. Around 1887, an  Austro-Hungarian scholar known as Maz Herz became known as the head of the technical department at the Awqaf, who made several important changes, including changing the name of the museum to the gallery of arab Antiquities.

Around 1895, the number of art collections increased to 1641 in the new building, which made it very crowded, so a new request was made to build a larger museum. Around 1899, the New museum’s foundations in Bab Al Khalq were added. The Islamic museum was designed by Alfonso Manescalo in Neo-Mamluk style in 1902, which holds an Upper story that houses the national library, which was demolished around 70s and underwent a process of renovation and redecoration. In the mid-80s, the Museum expanded by acquiring the neighboring land, which used to be a gas station.

They added two new halls for textiles, carpets, and storage. They also built a garden and cafeteria on the annexed land. In 2003, they underwent further development, constructing a three-story administrative building for staff, a library, a restoration department, and a lecture hall. The display layout was completely changed. By 2015, with the help of generous grants and donations from entities like the UAE, UNESCO, ARCE, Swiss Government, and Italian Government, the Museum was restored to its original state before an explosion.

Architectural & Exhibition Layout of the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo

The architectural design of the museum was made of two entrances, where each is around the north-eastern & south-eastern sides. The building showcases a blend of neo-Mamluk and modern architectural styles, creating an elegant and impressive structure that complements the surrounding historic area of Cairo. The main facade features intricate Islamic geometric patterns and decorative elements. A beautiful garden was added that held a fountain that made its way to the first entrance of the museum.

The entrance that is found on Port Said Street featured a highly luxurious façade with magnificent decorations and several recesses, which was highly inspired by Islamic architecture from different time periods in Egypt. The two-storey building had a lower floor that contained a very large exhibition hall and an Upper floor that contained all the general stores.

Explore All the Famous Collections of the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo

The Collections found in the museum are highly extraordinary and priceless as they come from different regions on earth, from Egypt, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Andalusia, and Iran, ranging from the 7th to the 19th century. All the exhibited artifacts are found on the incredible right wing of the MIA, which is arranged according to their time periods, which are the Umayyad, Abbasid, Ayyubid, Mamluk, and Ottoman ages.

On the left wing of the MIA are several sections which are divided into sections of science, astronomy, calligraphy, coins, stones, and textiles, covering various epochs. A Mamluk key to the holy Ka’ba in Mecca and a golden textile bearing the oldest Kufic inscription are considered to be the museum’s most notable & beautiful possessions.

Some of the most famous collections include: The Islamic Calligraphy section holds a wide array of exquisite calligraphic works, displaying the artistry and beauty of Arabic script. The ceramics and Pottery sections are a diverse collection of ceramics and pottery, including decorative tiles, vases, and vessels, showcasing the mastery of Islamic potters. Metalwork sections are a captivating display of metalwork objects, such as intricately engraved brass and copper pieces, as well as splendid silverware.

The textiles section features ancient carpets, embroidered fabrics, and stunning textiles from different Islamic eras. The woodwork section has artistic wooden panels, screens, and furniture that exemplify the skill of Islamic woodworkers. Manuscripts and Miniatures are precious Islamic manuscripts and miniature paintings showcasing the literary and artistic achievements of the Islamic world.

Learn About The Incredible Facts of MIA

• The Museum of Islamic Art “MIA” is the biggest and most extensive museum on earth that possesses an incredible collection of marvelous plaster artifacts and rare woodwork, plus a number of marvelous materials like ceramic, metal, crystal, glass, and textile objects of all time periods from all over the Islamic world.
• The houses have about 100,000 objects and half of them are found on display which some of them exhibit a number of magical manuscripts of the Quran that have silver ink calligraphy located on great pages with highly elaborate borders.
• The museum is known to fund and conduct a number of archaeological excavations located in the Fustat area, which are featured in a number of international and national exhibitions.
• The museum was created more than 120 years ago and was renovated many times over time in 2003 and again in 2010, which cost about 10 million dollars.