Art lovers in Abu Dhabi get a rare opportunity to witness the incredible blend of artistry, scholarship, and spirituality that shaped centuries of knowledge! “Golden Ink: A Journey through Arabic and Islamic Manuscripts” exhibition invites visitors to explore the rich history of Arabic and Islamic manuscripts, some dating back over a thousand years. You can visit it at Qasr Al Watan, House of Knowledge, until April 2026.
“Golden Ink” offers access to extraordinary manuscripts from some of the world’s most renowned collections. From the Louvre Abu Dhabi to private holdings of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, this exhibition brings together a treasure trove of handwritten texts.
Among the exhibition’s oldest wonders is a fragment from the 8th century Kufic script. This precious piece, with its bold angular letters on animal-skin parchment, offers a glimpse into the earliest forms of Arabic writing.
One of the exhibition’s crown jewels is Blue Qur’an, a 9th-century marvel, written in shimmering gold ink on indigo-dyed vellum. This masterpiece, believed to have originated in Andalusia, is so fragile that it will only be displayed for just one month.
As visitors move through the exhibition, they’ll experience a journey through the evolution of Arabic writing, from its Nabataean roots to the beautifully decorated scientific and literary manuscripts that followed.
A fascinating section explores “marginalia”, the handwritten notes that scholars, students, and manuscript owners have added to the margins of these works. These personal annotations allow us to see how people in the past engaged with these texts, adding a layer of intimacy to the scholarly exchange.
“Illuminating Knowledge” is a section that celebrates the fusion of art and science. Scientific manuscripts, with their intricate gold illuminations and vibrant illustrations, showcase how artistic expression was intertwined with the pursuit of knowledge. Pharmacology texts adorned with delicate floral designs and astronomical charts filled with gold leaf will surely captivate any art lover.
The exhibition will be available to Abu Dhabi’s art lovers until April 2026, before heading to Montreal. Whether you’re a lover of history, art, or both, “Golden Ink” offers an unforgettable opportunity to engage with a rich cultural legacy that continues to inspire and influence the world today.
To dive deeper into the world of art and culture, be sure to check out the full exhibition calendar for the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s 2025-26 season. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest exhibitions and events in the city’s vibrant cultural scene!
