Saudi donates $3.7 million to Islamic art in Britain

4/20/2005 5:00:00 PM GMT

Source: Khaleej Times

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia donated $3.7 million on Tuesday to a leading British museum for the creation of a new Saudi and Islamic gallery.

The money, handed over by Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Saudi Arabia's second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defence and Aviation, will also pay for a scholarship programme for Saudi students at Oxford University.

The Islamic gallery will be attached to Oxford University?s Ashmolean Museum, the oldest public collection in Britain.

Speaking in London, Prince Sultan said he hoped the Saudi/Islamic gallery would promote the "understanding and appreciation of Islamic art within the UK."

The Ashmolean was founded in 1683 and houses a significant collection of art and archaeology from eastern and western civilisations.