The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Cairo (in Arabic متحف الفن الإسلامي) houses the largest collection of Islamic art in the world.
Contents
History and Description
The Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo is one of the most important museums in the world dedicated to Islamic art. It was officially founded in 1881, initially as a small collection inside the al-Hakim Mosque, and in 1903 it was moved to its current building located in Bab al-Khalq Square, in Cairo’s historic center. The building, designed in neo-Mamluk style by architect Alfonso Manescalo, was inaugurated in 1903 and, as mentioned, hosts one of the world’s largest and most diverse collections of Islamic art.
The museum holds over 100,000 objects, although only a portion is on display to the public. The works come from various countries of the Islamic world, including Egypt, Iran, Turkey, India, Andalusia, and North Africa. The collection includes ceramics, textiles, glass, metalwork, weapons, scientific instruments, manuscripts, and wooden and stone artifacts, dating from the early Islamic period in the 7th century up to the 19th century. Of particular note are the illuminated Qurans, enamelled mosque lamps, and astrolabes.
In 2014, the museum suffered serious damage due to a nearby explosion, which affected part of the facade and some of the displayed objects. After thorough restoration, it reopened in 2017 with a new exhibition layout. Today, the museum serves not only an exhibition function but also an educational and scientific one, thanks to a specialist library and a restoration center.
From the museum’s official website, you can download an English PDF brochure containing the map and names of the 25 exhibition halls, a brief history and description of the museum, and some practical information for visitors, which we also provide below.
Address and Map
Museum of Islamic Art – Port Said Road, Bab al-Khalq Square, Cairo Governatorate 11638, Egypt
Nearest metro stations: Mohamed Naguib (850 m), Attaba (1,800 m)
Contacts
Museum of Islamic Art (MIA)
Phone: (+20 2) 3909930 / 3901520
Email: miainegypt@gmail.com
Timings
Opening hours of the Museum of Islamic Art:
- Saturday–Thursday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Friday, 9:00 am – 11:30 am and 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
- During Ramadan, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
The ticket office closes one hour before closing time
The recommended visit duration is 3–4 hours.
Ticket Prices
Admission ticket prices:
FOREIGN VISITORS
- Adult Ticket: EGP 340
- Student Ticket: EGP 170
EGYPTIAN AND ARAB VISITORS
- Adult Ticket: EGP 20
- Student Ticket: EGP 10
- Free Admission: children aged 0–5; Egyptian and Arab citizens aged 60+; Egyptian and Arab citizens with special needs; orphaned children; public primary and preparatory school trips
Last update: 14 July 2025
Tickets
Tickets for the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Cairo can be purchased online via this practical availability calendar from Tiqets:
Free cancellation with full refund until 11:59 pm the day before
Please note that GetYourGuide also offers a skip-the-line ticket, including transportation in a private air-conditioned vehicle, at a slightly higher price ($15):
We are not aware of tickets being available for purchase online through the official museum website.
Guided Tours
Here we suggest two guided tours of Islamic and Coptic Cairo, both available online via GetYourGuide:
You may cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Virtual Tour
On the museum’s official website, you can access 360° virtual tours – in Street View mode – of three exhibition areas: Eastern Of Islamic World, Coin & Weapon Hall, and Medicine Hall.
Guidebook
Here is an English-language guide to the Museum of Islamic Art, available online on Amazon:
The Illustrated Guide to the
Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo
with the Museums of Islamic Ceramics and Islamic Textiles
by Bernard O’Kane
The American University in Cairo Press (2012)
416 pages
» More books about the Museum of Islamic Art
Nearby Hotels
» Discover the best hotels in Cairo near the Islamic Art Museum on Booking.com
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Foto in alto: facciata principale del Museo d’Arte Islamica del Cairo.
Titolo originale: Musée islamique, (Le Caire, Égypte).
By Gérard Duchers via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.5)