Museum of Islamic Art opens in Qatar

.Qatar inaugurated the Museum of Islamic Arts in the capital Doha. An institution meant to highlight the rich Islamic civilization and its contribution to humanity.

•  The building has been designed by the Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei.
• The building stretches on 45 000 square meters of an artificial island. It contains some 800 objects from 3 continents illustrating Islamic culture from seventh to 19^th century. They were acquired by Qatar in auctions.
• They include items such as a silk wall-hanging that once adorned the Alhambra in Grenada at the Muslim Spain, Persian miniatures from the 16^th century Shamaneh of Tahmasp and a jade pendant worn by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, builder of Taj Mahal.

         Arab leaders and prominent personalities attended the ceremony including actor Robert de Niro