Exhibition on ‘Birmingham Quran’ opens in Abu Dhabi

A digital exhibition of the manuscript of the ‘Birmingham Quran’, one of the oldest surviving parts of the Quran in the world, was inaugurated at the Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi, the UAE.

A digital exhibition of the manuscript of the ‘Birmingham Quran’, one of the oldest surviving parts of the Quran in the world, was inaugurated at the Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi, the UAE.

Birmingham Quran is more than 1,350 years old, having been carbon-dated to 468-645AD. The origin of the four-page manuscript, which has been in the possession of the University of Birmingham since the 1930s, had not been properly determined until recently when a professor noticed that the binding appeared uniquely different from known vellum bindings of existing old manuscripts.

Noora Mohammad Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, who attended the opening of the exhibition on Sunday evening, said: “Our two countries share a belief in the importance of preserving, sharing and celebrating culture. I believe that bringing the Birmingham Quran exhibition to the UAE will play an important role in fostering mutual respect and understanding between our nations, cultures and faiths.”

Senior officials, including Philip Parham, the British Ambassador to the UAE; and Professor Robin Mason, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) University of Birmingham; attended the exhibition opening in Abu Dhabi.

From Abu Dhabi, the exhibition will move to Atrium 6 in Dubai’s Design District from April 19 to May 3, 2018, according to WAM.