Louvre Abu Dhabi Opens First GCC Exhibit on Mamluks' Cultural Legacy

Louvre Abu Dhabi is opening ‘Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire’, the first exhibition in the Gulf dedicated to the sultanate that ruled Egypt, the Levant and the Hejaz between 1250 and 1517. Running from September 17th to January 25th, the exhibition presents artefacts ranging from glasswork and ceramics to textiles and manuscripts, alongside rare loans from institutions across Asia, Africa and Europe.

Curated by specialists from the Musée du Louvre with local support, the show brings together more than 270 objects from 34 museums in 13 countries. Highlights include the Key to the Kaaba commissioned by Sultan Faraj, the helmet of Sultan Barsbay, the Basin known as the Baptistery of Saint Louis, and a rare Egyptian carpet with three medallions.

The exhibition also features interactive screens and immersive storytelling, with certain works on view exclusively in Abu Dhabi. A programme of talks, guided tours, children’s activities, podcasts and film screenings runs alongside the display, encouraging visitors to explore the connections between the Mamluk world and the present.