The exhibition at the Museum of Islamic Art traces Uzbekistan’s Islamic heritage, from the eve of the Islamic conquest to the present day, exploring how its legacy continues to shape the country’s culture and identity.
H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, accompanied by Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, opened Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Qatar. The exhibition showcases Uzbekistan’s rich history and cultural heritage, bringing its traditions, craftsmanship and artistic legacy to life.
Running until 28 November 2026, the exhibition explores Uzbekistan’s Islamic heritage and its enduring influence on the nation’s culture, creativity and identity. Organised by MIA in collaboration with the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), it brings together the country’s history, architecture, intellectual traditions and craftsmanship in an exhibition that connects its past with its present.
“Heritage does not belong to the past alone. It remains alive when we rediscover it, share its stories, and allow it to inspire the present and the future,” said Sheikha Al Mayassa.
The exhibition unfolds across four themes, tracing Uzbekistan’s journey from its pre-Islamic roots and Islamic Renaissances to its enduring intellectual and artistic traditions. It explores the region’s architecture, manuscripts and influential thinkers before celebrating traditional crafts, including ceramics, jewellery, dress and silk textiles.
Among the exhibition’s most important highlights is the Western mural from the Hall of Ambassadors at Afrasiab, which is being displayed outside Uzbekistan for the first time. The exhibition also features pages from the eighth-century Katta Langar Qur’an, alongside sixteenth-century architectural drawings, offering visitors rare insight into the region’s artistic, religious and architectural heritage.
The exhibition presents Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage from the period preceding the spread of Islam in Central Asia to the present day. It brings together 152 museum objects, including works from seven museums in Uzbekistan, the Museum of Islamic Art and the Qatar National Library.This exhibition will be the first in 30 years to link Uzbekistan’s history directly to its identity as a modern nation.
