SHARJAH: The House of Wisdom (HoW) in Sharjah has wrapped up its remarkable ‘Travelogues’ exhibition, part of the wider ‘Chapters from Islamic Art’ series, after welcoming nearly 13,000 visitors over the past four months. The exhibition transported guests through centuries of exploration, scholarship, and cultural legacy inspired by Muslim travellers, geographers, and cartographers from the Islamic Golden Age and beyond.
Inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the exhibition was grounded in a rare collection of books gifted by His Highness. These volumes belonged to the late Professor Richard Ettinghausen, whose collection spans more than 12,000 books on Islamic art, history, and sciences.
Through immersive displays and rare manuscripts, the exhibition spotlighted the contributions of legendary Muslim figures such as Ibn Khordadbeh, Al-Istakhri, Ibn Battuta, and Ibn Majid, among others. It charted the evolution of travel writing—from narrative storytelling to a precise science shaping the development of geography, navigation, and world mapping.
Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of HoW, noted that the exhibition wasn’t just a visual treat, but a profound intellectual journey. “It bridges generations with the Arab world’s rich contributions to human and geographical sciences,” she said, adding that the strong public engagement reflects a revived interest in Islamic civilisation’s global legacy.
Organised in collaboration with the Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre, Sharjah Museums Authority, Manuscripts House in Sharjah, and King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Saudi Arabia, the exhibition brought a vital piece of history to life, reinforcing Sharjah’s role as a leading centre for cultural insight and dialogue.
