Art of Kuwait: Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah Art Collection
Museums in Kuwait
To see the Kuwaiti private art collection is a must not only for the Kuwaitis but also visitors. Explore the Kuwaiti story of art at Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah in Kuwait.
Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI) is a cultural organisation based on a Kuwaiti private art collection which belongs to Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah, founder of The al-Sabah Collection and his wife Sheikha Hussah Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah, who is DAI director general and co-founder Sheikha Hussah Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah.
Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI) was established in 1983 to transform the private collection into an art exhibition of the Islamic world.
Unfortunately, the Kuwaiti National Museum which was home to the collection since 1983 was destroyed by Iraqi forces during the Iraqi invasion in 1990. The collection was later on returned back to the hands of Kuwait National Musem. However, many of these precios pieces had been damaged and few lost.
Kuwait National Musem is to be reconstructed soon. In the meantime, activities of DAI take place at the Amricani Cultural Centre in Kuwait.
The al-Sabah Collection consists of a wide range of important and interesting historical objects, including books, scripts, glass, ceramics, metal, precious stones and jewelled objects, architectural ornaments, textiles and carpets, coins and scientific instruments.