The Furusiyya Collection (Islamic Arts Biennale 2025)

Through the eyes of its curator William Robinson, this film takes us to the heart of one of the most fascinating collections of arms and chivalric art in the Muslim world: the Furusiyya Collection of Saudi businessman Rifaat Sheikh El Art.

The fruit of twenty-five years of passion and pursuit, this exceptional collection tells the story of a man who patiently built his dream — before choosing to share it. At the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah, we will discover rare and spectacular pieces: daggers encrusted with rubies, sultans' armour, warriors' masks — but above all, the profound meaning behind this unique ensemble: how was it assembled, what stories does it hold, and what place does it occupy in Islamic Arts today?