Louvre Abu Dhabi Presents Major Mamluk Exhibition with 270+ Works

Louvre Abu Dhabi has opened 'Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire', a major exhibition exploring the Mamluk Sultanate (1250–1517). The show brings together over 270 artworks from 34 institutions across 13 countries, including metalwork, ceramics, textiles, manuscripts, and coinage. Organized with Musée du Louvre and France Muséums, it is curated by Dr. Souraya Noujaim and Dr. Carine Juvin, with support from Fakhera Alkindi. The exhibition debuted at the Louvre in Paris in spring 2025 and now travels to Abu Dhabi with expanded loans from regional collections. Highlights include the 'Baptistery of Saint Louis' (c.1330–1340), a Key to the Kaaba bearing Sultan Faraj's name, and a Venetian School painting of a diplomatic mission. Six works from Louvre Abu Dhabi's own collection are featured, such as a 13th-century Quran section and a 15th-century Egyptian carpet. The exhibition is structured into seven thematic sections covering politics, religion, and culture. Digital storytelling, supported by LG Electronics Gulf, includes five interactive screens. A parallel public program runs from September to November 2025, featuring curator talks, a lecture on Mamluk architecture, film screenings, and educational activities for all ages. An exhibition catalogue edited by Dr. Carine Juvin is available in Arabic, English, and French. The show underscores historical connections between the Mamluk world and Asia, Africa, and Europe, resonating with Abu Dhabi's cosmopolitan identity.