Rare Manuscript Celebrates Ibn Sina at Abu Dhabi Book Fair

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – A rare 14th-century manuscript of Ibn Sina’s “Canon of Medicine,” valued at Dh464,550, is a centerpiece of the 34th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), opening today at the ADNEC Centre and running until May 5.

The manuscript, brought to the fair by London antiquarian book dealer Peter Harrington, commemorates the 1000th anniversary of Ibn Sina’s influential work, which has deep roots in both Islamic and global medical history. This year’s event features 1,400 exhibitors from 96 countries, offering over 2,000 activities related to literature, publishing, and cultural dialogue under the theme “Knowledge Illuminates Our Community.” The fair is hosted by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and is under the patronage of President Sheikh Mohamed.

Harrington’s collection showcases rare works that celebrate Middle Eastern history and the intersections between Islamic and Western traditions. Among these remarkable items is the first known appearance of Arabic script in an American novel, “The Kentuckian in New-York” (1834), valued at £7,500 (Dh36,675), and a previously unrecorded Arabic-English phrasebook by an Egyptian author, also priced at £7,500.

A notable highlight of the fair is a rare first complete Arabic edition of “One Thousand and One Nights,” printed in Cairo at Bulaq Press in 1835, complementing the fair’s theme as the “Book of the World.” Other significant artefacts include a visual archive of Saudi Arabia’s post-war Hejaz Railway project, featuring over 200 unpublished photographs priced at £18,500 (Dh90,465), and original watercolours by renowned illustrator Edmund Dulac for “The Arabian Nights,” valued between £35,000 and £80,000 (Dh171,000 to Dh391,000).

Pom Harrington, owner of Peter Harrington, emphasized that these works hold value beyond their rarity, as they resonate with identity, memory, and belonging. He noted a rising interest among younger Middle Eastern collectors in items that reflect personal histories and cultural heritage.

Ben Houston, the dealer’s sales director, added that there is strong interest in Arabic calligraphy, Islamic philosophy, and early scientific texts, along with materials related to diasporic heritage like trade maps and early language guides. The fair’s organizers acknowledged that this trend reflects a broader cultural movement in the region, highlighting the importance of national identity and heritage preservation in both institutional and private collections.