Museum of Islamic Art, Cairo Museum

Address: Port Said Street (Bab al-Khalq area), Cairo, Egypt

The Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo houses one of the region’s major collections of Islamic decorative arts and objects, covering a broad chronological span of Islamic history. The displays include ceramics, metalwork, textiles, woodwork, carved stone and manuscripts that illustrate artistic and craft traditions.

Galleries are arranged by material and period to show technical development and regional styles, with manuscript and calligraphy displays highlighting book arts and epigraphic work. The museum’s holdings are used for research as well as public exhibition, and it receives both local and international visitors interested in Islamic art history.

The building sits in central Cairo’s museum area and functions as a national institution for the conservation and interpretation of Islamic material culture. Practical visitor information such as opening hours should be checked in advance as schedules and access can change.

• Collection strengths: The collection covers a wide chronological span of Islamic material culture, with strengths in decorative arts such as metalwork and ceramics.
• Location and visiting: The museum is located within central Cairo’s historic museum district and is often visited in combination with other nearby cultural sites.

What to See#

• Permanent collection galleries: Permanent galleries display ceramics, metalwork, woodwork, textiles and carved stone spanning the early Islamic centuries through late medieval and pre-modern periods.
• Manuscripts and inscriptions: Separate manuscript and epigraphy displays show Qur’anic and other Islamic manuscripts along with finely worked inscriptive panels.

• Arrive shortly after opening to avoid school groups and the midday heat; the galleries are extensive so early arrival gives a calmer visit.
• Check the museum's official site for current opening hours and temporary closures before you go, as access to some galleries can be limited for conservation work.
• Plan at least two hours so you can move through the major chronological sections (ceramics, metalwork, textiles and woodwork) without rushing.