Louvre Abu Dhabi is bringing the story of the Mamluks to life in a major new exhibition running from September 17, 2025, until January 25, 2026. Developed with Musée du Louvre, it gathers over 270 artworks and objects, including calligraphy, arabesque designs, textiles, metalwork, ceramics, and manuscripts. Through the exhibition, you’ll explore how a dynasty of slave-soldiers rose to power and left a lasting artistic and cultural legacy.
Shadow Puppets Depict the Mamluks’ Rise to Power
The exhibition opens with shadow puppetry — once a popular form of entertainment in their time — retelling how the Mamluks rose from slave soldiers to sultans.
The Baptistery of Saint Louis Reveals a French Royal Link to Mamluk Art
One of the star pieces is the Baptistery of Saint Louis (14th century). This 14th-century copper basin, inlaid with silver and decorated with hunting scenes, was crafted in Egypt or Syria but ended up in France, where it became the baptismal font for French royalty. It is being displayed in the region for the very first time.
Via The National
Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad’s Objects Showcase His Enduring Legacy
Among the rulers featured, Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad stands out through objects bearing his name, including a copper alloy incense burner inlaid with gold, silver, and black paste — a symbol of both his reign and the artistry of the era.
Via The National
The Exhibition Showcases Women’s Role in the Mamluk Court
One of the exhibition’s most refreshing angles is its spotlight on women. Visitors meet Shajar al-Durr, the only woman to ever take the title of sultan, and Sitt Hadaq, a Sudanese woman who began life enslaved but rose to become a powerful patron of learning and architecture.
Her influence can be felt in one of the exhibition’s standout works: a monumental Quran she commissioned in 1340, richly decorated with gold, pigments, and the elegant muhaqqaq script. Together, their stories show how women, too, left their mark on the dynasty’s legacy.
Immersive Display Recreates Cairo’s Qalawun Complex
Visitors are surrounded by towering projections of Cairo’s Qalawun Complex, a monumental 13th-century structure that combined a hospital, madrassa, and mausoleum, reflecting the Mamluks’ civic and cultural ambition.
Via The National
The Exhibition Underscores the Mamluks’ Lasting Global Impact
More than warriors, the Mamluks were builders, patrons, and global connectors. Through spectacular objects, immersive displays, and overlooked stories, the exhibition reveals a dynasty that shaped art and culture across continents.
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