KUWAIT: Under the patronage and in the presence of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the exhibition “Between Two Masterpieces: The Origins of the Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah” was inaugurated at the Amricani Cultural Center in Kuwait City on December 15. Upon his arrival, His Highness was received by Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah; Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Baddah Al-Mutairi; and General Supervisor of Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah Sheikha Hessa Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.
The ceremony was attended by a number of senior officials and dignitaries, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Shareeda Abdullah Al-Maousherji; Head of the Crown Prince’s Diwan Sheikh Thamer Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah; Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya; Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr Nader Abdullah Al-Jallal; Minister of Education Jalal Sayed Al-Tabtabaei, as well as ambassadors and guests.
The event opened with the national anthem, followed by a documentary highlighting the history of the Al-Sabah Archaeological Collection and the establishment of the Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah. Bader Ahmed Al-Buaijan, Chairman of the Founding Committee of the Friends of Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah, then delivered a welcoming address in which he praised the cultural achievements of the Dar and paid tribute to the late Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah for his enduring legacy. He noted that the exhibition reflects the outcome of voluntary efforts and close cooperation between the Dar and its supporters.
Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) Dr Mohammad Khalid Al-Jassar also addressed the gathering, expressing appreciation to His Highness the Crown Prince for his patronage and continued support of cultural initiatives. He highlighted the Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah’s role as a bridge between Kuwait and the world and its contribution to cultural diplomacy through international exhibitions, including recent showcases in China and India. He reaffirmed the NCCAL’s commitment to supporting the Dar and preserving its distinguished cultural legacy.
Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, in his speech, emphasized the leadership’s keenness on supporting culture, heritage and antiquities as essential pillars of national identity. He noted that the exhibition documents a cultural journey spanning nearly five decades, shaped by the vision of the late Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Sheikha Hessa Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, culminating in the establishment of Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah as a globally recognized cultural institution.
Following the speeches, His Highness toured the exhibitions “Between Two Masterpieces” and “The Art of the Arabian Peninsula Before Islam: The Heritage of the Ancients,” as well as displays featuring artifacts from the Al-Sabah Archaeological Collection. His Highness signed the guestbook to mark the official opening of the exhibition before departing amid a warm farewell. The exhibition underscores Kuwait’s commitment to preserving human heritage, promoting cultural dialogue, and highlighting its rich civilizational contributions on the regional and international stage. — KUNA
