Flagship showcase opens at Qasr Al Watan, Abu Dhabi, on 7 October 2025 for a six-month run
Abu Dhabi, UAE – 8 October 2025: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced the launch of “Golden Ink: A Journey through Arabic and Islamic Manuscripts”, a landmark travelling exhibition created in collaboration with McGill University, Canada. The exhibition honours the rich heritage, artistic beauty, and global influence of Arabic and Islamic manuscripts. It will debut at Qasr Al Watan on 7 October 2025, remaining on display for six months before moving to Montreal in January 2027.
Qasr Al Watan was selected as the exhibition’s opening venue in recognition of its status as both a cultural and architectural icon that embodies heritage and knowledge. More than just a landmark, the Palace serves as a national symbol that blends architectural grandeur with intellectual depth, reflecting the UAE’s vision of encouraging dialogue, promoting openness, and recognising the importance of knowledge as a bridge between civilisations.
Highlights of the exhibition include treasures from the Abu Dhabi Libraries’ collection, joined by exceptional pieces from McGill University, Zayed National Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and other esteemed UAE private collections. Notably, the curated contributions from Louvre Abu Dhabi and select private collections will be exclusive to the Abu Dhabi showing, offering visitors rare access to these works. In addition, the Zayed National Museum will preview selected items ahead of its official opening later this year.
The exhibition provides an immersive journey into the intellectual and artistic achievements of the Islamic world, featuring a remarkable selection of manuscripts spanning disciplines such as science, literature, religion, art, and philosophy. Originating in Abu Dhabi, the initiative highlights DCT Abu Dhabi’s role in curating and sharing Arab and Islamic intellectual heritage with global audiences.
His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “This exhibition is a testament to the intellectual and artistic achievements of the Islamic world. In line with DCT Abu Dhabi’s cultural mission, we remain committed to representing the importance of arts, culture, and heritage in society. Bringing Abu Dhabi’s rich manuscript heritage to life, the Golden Ink exhibition presents an opportunity to engage in new experiences while fostering cultural exchange through collaboration with leading academic institutions. It highlights the lasting global impact of Arab and Islamic civilisation, while inspiring new generations to value scholarship, creativity, and the rich tradition of manuscript culture.”
His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah Al Junaibi, Chairman of Presidential Protocol at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Qasr Al Watan, stated: “The exhibition at Qasr Al Watan “The Golden Ink: A Journey Through Arab and Islamic Manuscripts”, is a representation of the palace as a significant national cultural landmark. It captures Abu Dhabi’s essence, blending our past with the creativity and innovation of the present, all firmly grounded in our national values and cultural identity.
It further highlights the cultural, intellectual, and human richness preserved within these manuscripts, embodying the leadership’s vision to revive and preserve our cultural legacy. This heritage endures as a source of inspiration for generations, guiding them to continue what their forefathers began in the fields of science and the arts, and the innovations that have illuminated humanity to this very day. The depth and richness of this exhibition, made possible through collaboration with international partners, further highlights Abu Dhabi’s leadership and dedication to preserving human heritage regionally and globally.”
Commenting on the partnership with McGill University, Professor Deep Saini, President of the University, stated: “Knowledge posseses the power to transcend geographical, linguistic, and temporal boundaries. The “Golden Ink” exhibition is a living testament to this truth, born of an international partnership founded on respect, academic excellence, and a shared desire to highlight the cultural and scientific achievements of the Islamic world. We are honoured that Qasr Al Watan is hosting this unique collaboration that brings us together in the spirit of learning and dialogue.”
The exhibition invites audiences into an immersive experience that mirrors the intimate act of reading ancient manuscripts, including decoding, uncovering, and connecting them with hidden layers of meaning. Its design masterfully plays upon the concept of revealing and concealing, fostering a sense of curiosity and encouraging a journey of slow, deliberate discovery.
Exploring manuscripts through four themes
The exhibition offers a curated journey through four themes, each illuminating a distinct facet of the manuscript as both vessel and vision. It begins with “The Journey of Arabic Calligraphy”, tracing the elegant evolution of the Arabic script from its earliest incisions to the refined calligraphic traditions that transformed language into art. Here, the written word transcends communication, becoming a sacred geometry of meaning and form.
The journey continues with “Illumination: The Embellishment of the Written Word”, where manuscripts unfold as visual marvels, adorned with gold, colour, and intricate design. This theme celebrates not only what is read, but how it is seen, with each page revealed as an artwork shimmering with devotion, precision, and imagination.
From ornament to intellect, the path leads to “Marginalia: Treasure Troves in Manuscripts”, drawing visitors into a deeper world of learning. Within the margins, a rich culture of scholarship comes alive, where notes, commentaries, and reflections reveal vibrant dialogues between past and present, teacher and student, text and interpretation. These lively edges of the page reflect manuscripts as dynamic spaces of intellectual exchange and cultural continuity.
The journey culminates with “Lithography: A Glimpse into the Future of Manuscript Legacy”, reflecting on how the manuscript tradition gracefully embraced modernity. Through the transformative power of lithographic printing, handwritten knowledge found new form and wider reach, ensuring that the legacy of manuscripts continues to inspire, evolve, and endure in a changing world.
The role of Abu Dhabi Libraries in preservation
The exhibition also highlights the pivotal role Abu Dhabi Libraries (MAKTABA) play in housing and preserving rare manuscript collections. These repositories preserve and advance the collective understanding of Arab and Islamic heritage – defining the nation’s identity and shaping its future by fostering a deeper comprehension of the past, nurturing the present, and ultimately forging the path ahead. In doing so, they transform Abu Dhabi into a bridge between heritage and contemporary dialogue, serving as a medium for cultural self-preservation and intellectual exploration, encouraging inspiration, national pride, and a more deeply connected society.
Curated with academic rigor and visual storytelling, the exhibition will educate and engage a diverse spectrum of audiences, from local communities and visitors to scholars and students. For those eager to explore further, a richly illustrated exhibition catalogue offers an extended journey into the themes and treasures of the show. It features in-depth insights into the manuscripts and their cultural significance and also opens with a foreword by Professor François Déroche, the esteemed Chair of the History of the Qur’an Text and Transmission at the Collège de France and a leading voice in the field of Arabic codicology and palaeography. Visitors can expect immersive displays, bilingual object labels, digital interactives, and public programmes featuring a series of hands-on heritage workshops designed to make manuscript heritage accessible and engaging.
Upon the conclusion of its six-month residency in Abu Dhabi, the exhibition is slated to travel to McGill University in Montreal, Canada, in January 2027. This marks the second iteration, continuing its pivotal mission of fostering cross-cultural dialogue and underscoring the universal value of Arab and Islamic manuscript traditions.
Integral toDCT Abu Dhabi’s overarching mission to protect, promote, and preserve the UAE’s cultural heritage, the exhibition champions the emirate’s cultural assets on the global stage. Further, it bolsters cultural diplomacy by fostering high-level international collaboration, cultivates academic engagement, and advances cultural literacy and public appreciation for the rich tapestry of Arab and Islamic heritage.
Conference on manuscripts to follow exhibition
Immediately following the exhibition’s inauguration, DCT Abu Dhabi will proudly host the fourth Abu Dhabi International Conference on Manuscripts between 8-9 October 2025. Under the compelling theme “Visual Arts in Arabic and Islamic Manuscripts: Artistic Heritage and Contemporary Influence”, this conference will reinforce the exhibition’s core message.
These key, home-grown initiatives are designed to cultivate recognition of Abu Dhabi’s libraries and institutions as esteemed custodians of world-class manuscript collections, further strengthening Abu Dhabi’s global cultural standing as a thought leader in heritage preservation and cross-cultural collaboration. Leveraging the cultural and scholarly value of the manuscripts on display, DCT Abu Dhabi aims to illuminate their enduring relevance in the contemporary world. While the exhibition offers a tangible, public-facing exploration of manuscript heritage, the accompanying conference provides a deeper, scholarly immersion into its academic and artistic dimensions. Intrinsically linked, these initiatives collectively present a narrative that amplifies Abu Dhabi’s long-standing dedication to its rich cultural legacy.
Under the leadership of DCT Abu Dhabi, these initiatives further solidify Abu Dhabi’s standing as a centre for knowledge, cultural excellence, scholarship, and international collaboration.
