RIYADH, 21 April 2005 — In a move to promote understanding between Islam and the West, Saudi Arabia has donated about SR13 million to a leading British museum for the creation of a new Saudi and Islamic gallery. The money has been donated to Ashmolean Museum of Oxford University, the oldest British museum, on the personal initiative of Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation.

“The Islamic gallery will be attached to Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, which already has a rich collection of exhibits from the Middle East and Islamic world,” Saudi and British officials said yesterday.

Ashmolean Museum was the first museum in the world to be opened to the public when it was officially inaugurated way back in 1683, according to the Guinness Book of Records. The museum’s treasures include rare exhibits from various Islamic countries.

The officials said the money from Prince Sultan will pay for a new Saudi and Islamic gallery, which will help to portray Islamic culture and civilization in right perspectives. It will also help fund scholarships for Saudi students at Oxford University.

“I am very pleased that the new student scholarship scheme will enable 10 Saudi students to study at Oxford,” said Prince Sultan.

“It will be an honor for our students to attend this ancient seat of learning, amongst students from around the world,” said the prince, while appreciating the facilities at Ashmolean, which also houses a significant collection of art and archaeology from eastern and western civilizations.

The museum has been a part of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world, and lays claim to nine centuries of continuous existence.

As an internationally renowned center for teaching and research, Oxford attracts students and scholars from around the globe, with almost a quarter of students from overseas. More than 130 nationalities including Saudis are represented among its student population.