Louvre Abu Dhabi presents major Mamluk Sultanate exhibition with 270+ objects from 13 countries

Louvre Abu Dhabi is currently hosting 'Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire,' a comprehensive exhibition exploring the Mamluk Sultanate's 250-year reign from 1250 to 1517. Curated by Dr Souraya Noujaim and Dr Carin Juvin with support from Fakhera Alkindi, the show features over 270 artifacts from 34 institutions across 13 nations. Organized in partnership with the Musée du Louvre and France Muséums, this marks the first major Gulf presentation on the dynasty. Seven thematic sections examine the Mamluks' rise from military slaves to rulers, their political structures, urban development in cities like Cairo and Damascus, trade networks spanning the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, religious practices, and artistic production in glassmaking, metalwork, and textiles. Key objects include a 13th-century Quran section from Louvre Abu Dhabi's collection, a 1443 Hajj certificate from The British Library, and a 1330s incense burner from the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. The exhibition positions the Mamluks as central figures in pre-modern globalization, highlighting their diplomatic and cultural exchanges. Originally shown at the Musée du Louvre in Paris in spring 2025, the Abu Dhabi version incorporates regional loans to emphasize connections between the Gulf and Mamluk territories. It runs until January 25, 2026.