Cairo's Museum of Islamic Art Reopened

After a seven-year restoration programme, Cairo's Museum of Islamic Art was officially reopened by President Hosni Mubarak on 14 August. However the 25 galleries will not be open to the general public until the beginning of September according the French news agency, AFP. Housing an extensive collection of Egyptian Islamic art it is the largest museum of its kind in the world.

Authorities took the decision to close the museum in 2003 amid fears of the building's collapse. Designed in the early 20th century by Italian architect Alfonso Manescalo, cracks caused by tremors had become visible in many of the museum's walls while much of the treasure on show was poorly displayed.

The refurbished museum however provides a structurally sound home to some of Islam's greatest artwork as well as offering visitors the chance to observe the artefacts in a brighter and less cluttered environment.

Central to the museum's redesign was French museographer Adrien Gard