1. Highlight Abu Dhabi’s Role in Heritage Preservation

   Showcase Abu Dhabi’s role in safeguarding Arabic cultural heritage, particularly focusing on Arabic and Islamic manuscripts.

2. Foster Global Collaboration

   Establish partnership with McGill University to enhance our knowledge in the study of Arabic and Islamic manuscripts, driving forward capacity-building and academic research initiatives.

3. Emphasise Cultural and Aesthetic Significance

   Illustrate the aesthetic and cultural importance of Arabic and Islamic manuscripts in documenting religious, scientific, and literary knowledge.

4. Analyse Artistic Techniques and Styles

   Study the techniques in manuscript art, highlighting stylistic diversity and ensuring preservation for future generations.

5. Enhance Public Awareness

   Foster awareness of Arabic and Islamic manuscripts among current generations and promote access to this heritage.

6. Promote Academic Studies in Visual Arts of Manuscripts

   Encourage new research in the visual arts of manuscripts, encompassing both art history and contemporary studies.

7. Explore East-West Cultural and Aesthetic Exchange

   Examine the cultural interactions between the East and the West in manuscript visual arts, exploring the influence of Islamic and Arabic manuscript aesthetics.

8. Encourage Cross-Cultural Dialogue

   Connect traditional manuscript arts with contemporary art practices, exploring how historical Islamic and Arabic artistic styles are integrated into modern visual arts.

1. Historical and Cultural Context of Visual Arts in Arabic and Islamic Manuscripts

   Explore the evolution of visual arts across Islamic eras and the impact of Islamic art schools on manuscripts, examining the relationship between text and imagery.

2. East-West Cultural Exchange and its Impact on Visual Arts and Manuscripts

   Analyse the mutual influences between East and West in Islamic manuscripts, tracing how they became instruments for cultural knowledge and exchange.

3. The Role of Visual Arts in Shaping Arabic and Islamic Manuscripts

   Discuss distinctive visual arts such as calligraphy, illumination, miniatures, and examine their religious, cultural, and artistic value.

4. Artistic Excellence in Medical, Scientific, and Literary Manuscripts

   Investigate creative elements in manuscripts across medical, astronomical, geographical, mathematical, and literary domains.

5. The Role of Digital Technology in Manuscript Preservation

   Assess the importance of digital technology in the preservation of manuscripts and their artistic heritage, with a focus on digitisation, conservation, and archiving techniques.

6. Islamic Manuscripts in Contemporary Art and Future Directions

   Examine how contemporary artists reinterpret Islamic manuscript art, integrating traditional elements into modern forms.

Important Dates

• Abstract Submission Deadline: January 10th, 2025.
• Review of proposals by the Conference Committee: January 11 to February 2nd, 2025.
• Notification of Acceptance: February 3rd, 2025.
• Full Paper Submission Deadline: September 5th, 2025.

1. Submit abstracts via conference submission form
2. Abstracts should not exceed 500 words; full papers should be 4,000–6,000 words.
3. Include an updated academic CV in Arabic or English.
4. Papers must be original and unpublished.
5. Ensure that submissions meet academic standards and offer scholarly value.
6. Papers can be submitted in Arabic or English only.

• No registration fee.
• The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi will issue visas for accepted participants.
• Travel and accommodation for one author per accepted paper.
• Breakfast, lunch, and coffee breaks provided for all invited participants.
• Both in-person and virtual participation options, with online streaming and recording.
• For more details and inquiries, please contact: E-mail: manuscript@dctabudhabi.ae

Day 1: Wed. 8 – Oct. 2025

Day 2: Thu. 9 – Oct. 2025