Qatar Museums proudly presents its contribution at the iconic Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, which opened on 25 January 2025 in Jeddah. The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) features eight remarkable artifacts, each carefully chosen to reflect the theme of Numbers, showcasing the mathematical and scientific excellence embedded in Islamic art. Renowned globally for its exceptional collection, the Museum of Islamic Art stands as a premier institution dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich artistic heritage of the Islamic world.
The Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, presented by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, stands as a distinguished celebration of the profound artistic and cultural legacy of Islamic civilisation. Taking place at the renowned Western Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport, the Biennale showcases an exceptional blend of historical treasures and contemporary works. Qatar Museums proudly contributes to this prestigious event, with its display featuring in the AlMadar section, a curated segment that explores the intersections of Islamic culture and its rich intellectual heritage. "AlMadar," meaning "the orbit" in Arabic, embodies the dynamic connections that shape the cultural narrative of the Islamic world.
Among the highlights are eight masterpieces from the Museum of Islamic Art, each offering a window into the numerical and mathematical ingenuity that defines Islamic art and its global influence. These include:
● Talpur Dynasty Curved Sword, 19th Century CE
● Mughal Kris Dagger, 17th Century CE
● Kitāb Suwar al-Kawākib al-Thābita – Buyid Astronomical Manuscript, 12th Century CE
● Mughal Celestial Globe, 17th & 20th Century CE
● Timurid Decorative Brass Bowl, 15th Century CE
● North African Zinc Alloy and Wood Printing Block, 19th Century CE
● Darfur Sultanate Ornate Sword, 19th & 20th Century CE
● Delhi Sultanate Embroidered Cotton Shirt, 14th Century CE
These artifacts are more than historical objects, they are embodiments of a sophisticated understanding of mathematics and its integration into art and daily life. From the celestial globe’s intricate mapping of the stars to the geometric perfection of a Timurid bowl, these objects showcase the deep interplay between science, mathematics, and art in Islamic culture.
Shaika Nasser Al-Nassr, Director of the Museum of Islamic Art, remarked, “It is with great pride that Qatar Museums participates in the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 in Jeddah, a distinguished event that allows us to showcase the profound legacy of Islamic art and its intellectual heritage. The eight artifacts presented from our collection not only reflect the brilliance of Islamic craftsmanship but also highlight the central role of mathematics and numerical precision in shaping the art, science, and culture of the Islamic world. Through this contribution, we aim to emphasise the enduring relevance of these contributions, offering a deeper understanding of how numbers and geometry continue to influence our perceptions of the world around us.”
Building on the success of the inaugural Biennale in 2023, Qatar Museums’ expanded contribution for 2025 reaffirms its commitment to promoting cultural dialogue and highlighting the shared heritage of Islamic art. During the first edition, Qatar Museums’ four loaned pieces were met with widespread acclaim. This year’s focus on mathematical and numerical themes brings an enriched perspective to the Biennale, further strengthening the collaboration between Qatar Museums and the Diriyah Biennale Foundation.
The 2025 Biennale, titled And All That Is In Between, will run until 25 May 2025 and features seven thematic components, including an expansive outdoor exhibition space. Visitors are invited to explore these exceptional artifacts in Jeddah, where they will be part of a wider narrative celebrating the timeless contributions of Islamic civilisation to the global artistic and scientific landscape. This unique exhibition offers a comprehensive exploration of Islamic art, bridging the past and present while highlighting the intellectual, cultural, and scientific legacies that continue to shape the world today.
To know more about the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 and the participation of Museum of Islamic Art, visit: https://mia.org.qa/en/calendar/islamic-arts-biennale-2025/
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About Qatar Museums
Qatar Museums (QM), the nation’s preeminent institution for art and culture, provides authentic and inspiring cultural experiences through a growing network of museums, heritage sites, festivals, public art installations, and programmes. QM preserves and expands the nation’s cultural offerings, sharing art and culture from Qatar, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region with the world and enriching the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors.
Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, QM has made Qatar a vibrant centre for the arts, culture, and education in the Middle East and beyond. QM is integral to the goal of developing an innovative, diverse, and progressive nation, bringing people together to ignite new thinking, spark critical cultural conversations, and amplify the voices of Qatar’s people. Since its founding in 2005, QM has overseen the development of museums and festivals including the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and MIA Park, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar (NMOQ), 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, QM Gallery Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival, and Design Doha. Future projects include Dadu: Children’s Museum of Qatar, Art Mill Museum, Qatar Auto Museum and the Lusail Museum.
Through its newly created Creative Hub, QM also initiates and supports projects—such as the Fire Station Artist in Residence, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival, M7, the creative hub for innovation, fashion and design, and Liwan Design Studios and Labs —that nurture artistic talent and create opportunities to build a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure.
Animating everything that Qatar Museums does is an authentic connection to Qatar and its heritage, a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, and a belief in creating value through invention. For more information visit https://qm.org.qa
About Museum of Islamic Art
Founded in 2008, the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), currently managed by “Shaikha Nasser Al-Nassr – MIA Director”, was one of the first projects initiated by QM. Designed by the renowned Chinese American architect I. M. Pei, MIA is a globally acclaimed museum that stands majestically on Doha’s Corniche, with a panoramic view of the city’s waterfront. The museum showcases Qatar’s world-class collections of Islamic art spanning over 1,300 years. Representing the full scope of Islamic art from the 7th to the 21st centuries, MIA collection includes manuscripts, ceramics, metalwork, glass, ivory, textiles, carpets, wood, and jewellery. The collection has been curated from three continents, including countries across the Middle East, and reaching as far as Spain and China. In addition, MIA presents a diverse and rich programme of exhibitions illustrating the heritage of the Islamic world, as well as extensive educational activities designated for schools, children, and families, making the museum a vital part of the community. MIA has become a popular museum in the region and internationally, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
About Diriyah Biennale Foundation
Inspired by the changes taking place in Saudi Arabia and the heritage site of Diriyah, and Chaired by H. H. Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation (DBF) assumes a critical role in nurturing creative expression and instilling an appreciation for culture and the arts and their transformative potential. The Foundation aspires to be a catalyst for lifelong learning and serves Saudi Arabia’s communities by offering opportunities to engage with the burgeoning local art scene. Central to the Foundation’s mandate is to stage two recurring world-class Biennales of contemporary and Islamic arts, year-round interactive educational programs, and overseeing the activation of JAX, a creative district with industrial heritage in Diriyah. At this historical moment of evolution and growth in Saudi Arabia, DBF’s Biennales showcase some of the world’s leading artists, drive cultural exchange between the Kingdom and international communities, promote dialogue and understanding, and further establish Saudi Arabia as an important cultural center.
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