Islamic Arts Museum

The Islamic Arts Museum, or Muzium Kesenian Islam, houses magnificent artifacts from all corners of the Islamic world, including the Ottoman and Mughal Empires, Mamluk Sultanate, China, Central Asia, the Malay archipelago, Persia and more.

Details

The quality of the artifacts on display at the Islamic Arts Museum, and its central location near other attractions such as the Perdana Botanical Garden and National Mosque makes it a place worth visiting no matter your background.

A rich collection consisting of over 7,000 antiquities from different parts of the Islamic world can be found here. These range from jewelry and handwritten Qurans from Persia dating back as far as the 13th century, to household items belonging to the Ottoman empire and large scale models of famous mosques worldwide.

The museum’s expansive assemblage is housed in an equally impressive, well-lit and spacious building which qualifies as an attraction in itself, with its magnificent imported tiles and gracefully-decorated cupolas.

The building has four levels; museum expositions are situated on the upper levels whereas a restaurant, book store and souvenir shop occupy the lower floors.

The Islamic Arts Museum’s collection is exhibited in twelve themed galleries:

Architecture – One of the most interesting segments of the museum. Get a sense of the magnificence of famous mosques around the world by inspecting realistic models of the Taj Mahal, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Bibi-Khanym Mosque and many more.

Quran & Manuscripts – Highlights include the Blue Quran from North Africa, Compendium of Astronomy & Astrology (1347AD) and original copies of the Quran from the Ming Dynasty.

India – Provides a glimpse of the lives of the Mughals through their jewellery, tableware, weapons, armour, paintings and clothing.

China – Calligraphic scrolls, bronze objects and porcelain from China and Central Asia i.e. Samarkand in Uzbekistan etc.

Malay – Ornaments from the Malay archipelago encompassing southern Thailand through to the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, and on to Java, Sulawesi and southern Philippines.

Jewellery – Fine Islamic jewellery consisting of gemstones, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, pearls and various semi-precious stones from Xinjiang, Morocco, Turkey, France, India and more.

Textile – Prayer mats, aprons, robes, shrine covers, embroidery and more from various places including the Middle East, Central Asia and China.

Weaponry – Centuries-old swords, chain mail, rifles, pistols, quivers, arrows, buffalo horns, Ottoman daggers and more.

Coins & Seals – Gold and silver coins, royal seals etc.

Metalwork – Household items made of copper, brass, bronze and more from Iran, Mosul, Mamluk Sultanate etc.

Wood & Lifestyle – Lacquerware, furniture, Ottoman throne room etc.

Ceramics – Pottery, mosaic panels, calligraphic tiles from Mesopotamia etc.

In addition to the permanent galleries listed above, the museum often hosts temporary, themed exhibitions.

Price/entrance fees

▶ KL half day tour – Book today

Opening hours

Monday to Sunday (including public holidays except Hari Raya Aidilfitri): 9.30am – 6.00pm

Note: On average, museum visitors spend 1.5 hours exploring the permanent exhibits of the museum. It is recommended that visitors arrive before 5 pm to ensure a satisfying experience, as the museum closes at 6pm. In this way, visitors will be able to enjoy the museum’s offerings comfortably without feeling rushed.