Jeddah: Al-Tayebat International City of Science and Knowledge Museum in Jeddah houses one of the Kingdom's most prominent collections of rare Quranic manuscripts, featuring copies of the holy Quran and manuscripts dating from the second to the 14th centuries AH.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the collection chronicles the evolution of the transcription of the holy Quran and the art of Arabic calligraphy over a span of more than a thousand years. This valuable collection highlights the diversity of the artistic and calligraphic traditions that flourished throughout Islamic civilization.

It includes manuscripts written in a wide range of Arabic scripts, from the early Kufic script associated with the earliest copies of the Quran, through the Naskh, Thuluth, Muhaqqaq, and Rayhani scripts, to richly illuminated Qurans that reflect the artistic evolution of Quran manuscript production across the Islamic ages.

The value of these manuscripts extends beyond their historical significance. They stand as living testimony to Muslims' enduring care for the holy Quran and the meticulous craftsmanship of the scribes and calligraphers who transcribed it, while their intricate ornamentation, gilding, and artistic embellishments reflect the flourishing of Islamic civilization across its various eras.

The museum, founded by Abdul Raouf Khalil, is one of the Kingdom's leading private museums. Spanning nearly 10,000 square meters, it comprises more than 120 exhibition halls, each containing two rooms, that display thousands of heritage and archaeological artifacts documenting the history of the Arabian Peninsula and human civilizations.

The museum welcomes researchers and visitors interested in heritage and culture from within the Kingdom and abroad.