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Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Unveils A New Museum With Rare Islamic Artefacts

It showcase rare Islamic artefacts, historic manuscripts, scientific instruments, and personal items linked to Sheikh Zayed Mosque.

by Deeplata Garde
Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Unveils A New Museum With Rare Islamic Artefacts

Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has added a new spot for you to linger a little longer. Say hello to the Lighartefacts Museum inside the Dome of Peace. This museum brings centuries of Islamic thought, science, art, and belief, blending into a carefully curated space. 

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Launches A New Museum Showcasing Rare Islamic Artefacts

A new cultural chapter inside an iconic landmark

Among the most moving pieces on display is a rare 20th-century fragment of the Holy Kaaba’s belt, as mentioned in a report by Gulf News.  Seeing it up close offers an intimacy few ever experience with one of Islam’s most sacred symbols. Nearby sits another heavyweight of history: the Dinar of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, recognised as the first Islamic gold coin, minted in 77 AH. Small in size, massive in historical weight.

The collection continues to impress. Visitors can view gold-illuminated pages from the Blue Quran, dating back to the ninth and tenth centuries. Their deep indigo backgrounds and luminous script still feel bold, even after more than a thousand years.

From Science To Scholarship, All Under One Dome

Apart from religious artefacts, it expands its collection into science, education, and daily life across Islamic civilisation. Highlights include Kitab al-Tamhid by Ibn Abd al-Barr, a 13th-century work centred on the teachings of Imam Malik, and Akhbar Makkah wa Ma Jaa Fiha Min al-Athar, a 14th-century historical text that documents Makkah’s legacy.

One standout object quietly steals attention: an Andalusian astrolabe from the 14th century. 

Personal History Meets Collective Memory

Adding a deeply local layer, the museum also displays personal belongings of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. These items connect the grand history to the individual who shaped the UAE’s modern identity.

Alongside them are medical manuscripts, textiles, calligraphy, and decorative arts. Together, the blend of creativity and knowledge moved hand in hand across regions and centuries.

Also Read: UAE Marks 2025 With Major Cultural, Heritage And Knowledge Milestones; Deets Inside

Five Themes That Guide The Journey

The Light & Peace Museum unfolds across five thematic sections. It is focused on worship, invention, tolerance, coexistence, and knowledge. Each artefact adds a sentence to a much larger story about how Islamic culture shaped, and continues to shape, the world.

This museum earns attention through depth and the flow of the artefacts. 

Cover Image Courtesy: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque/X

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First Published: December 31, 2025 6:05 PM