Rare artifacts were brought from Saudi Arabia to be displayed at the center of Islamic civilization.

The Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, being established on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is closely collaborating with leading scientific and cultural institutions worldwide. As a vivid example of this cooperation, the center has presented 13 rare and valuable exhibits for display at an exhibition held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as part of the opening of the House of Islamic Art.

The exhibits will be displayed in Uzbekistan from September 2025 to March 2026. They are organically connected to the history and culture of the Islamic world and the spiritual heritage of Uzbekistan, providing an opportunity for our compatriots and foreign guests to closely acquaint themselves with this rich historical treasure.

 As emphasized by the center’s researcher Elyor Mullajonov, one of the rarest among the exhibits is a unique artifact from the Mamluk period—the keys to the Holy Kaaba, made of brass, adorned with silver, and engraved with Quranic verses.

The works to be displayed at the exhibition belong to various periods and regions, including:

▪️A Ghaznavid-era incense burner — a cast bronze piece decorated with intricate carvings;

▪️A Seljuk-era inkwell — an artistic stone-carved artifact;

▪️Early Islamic-era ceramic bowls — created in the 4th–5th centuries AH;

▪️Quran manuscripts — decorated copies in Eastern Kufic and Naskh scripts;

▪️Pages from Avicenna’s "Canon of Medicine" — from the first edition of 1549;

▪️Mahmal — the ceremonial palanquin used for transporting the Kaaba’s kiswa;

▪️The curtain of the Maqam Ibrahim — a unique artifact sewn during the Ottoman era;

▪️Chess pieces — game pieces carved from animal bone;

▪️A historical book cover — a Central Asian example adorned with gold and paints.

This cooperation not only widely promotes the cultural heritage of the Islamic world but also serves as a significant step in strengthening cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, as well as facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experience in science and art.