“Riyadh is not only this modern capital city of the Kingdom with its high rising buildings, network of highways and large malls, but also a city of hidden pearls, such as this collection of Islamic artifacts and antiquities we are displaying here today,” the ambassador said, addressing a large gathering of diplomats and businessmen.

He told Arab News that the event comes in context of calls for interfaith dialogue from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

“So, we wanted this exhibition to be a contribution from us at a local level toward such dialogue,” he added.

He expressed an appreciation for the cultural heritage of Saudis and added that everyone is welcome to visit the exhibition, which will be open to the public until Mar. 7.

The French Adviser for Cultural Cooperation and Action at the French Embassy Daniel Ollivier told Arab News that the exhibition would provide visitors and lovers of Islamic art a rare opportunity to see a very unique collection of Islamic art pieces.

He added that the fact they are housed in a residential environment would give them more meaning than if they were on display as isolated pieces in an exhibition setting.

Ollivier said France had a lot of knowledge of Islamic art.

“We should note that we maintain one of the largest collection of Islamic art pieces in the world at our prestigious museum, the Louvre in Paris,” he added.

“A sample of them were displayed here in Riyadh at the national museum during the visit of the French president Jacques Chirac in 2006. So organizing such an Islamic exhibition by the French Embassy here should not be considered unusual.”

The exhibition includes over 100 pieces of arms, ceramics, metal, doors, textile and furniture that reflect both the classical and vernacular traditions of Islamic culture.

The displayed items date back to the 11th century and are from Islamic countries including Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Syria, India and Morocco.

Al-Saadawy is the great nephew of the curator of the world-renowned Topkapi Museum in Istanbul.

He spent his childhood traveling with his diplomat father to many countries such as France, Switzerland, Egypt, Senegal and Turkey.

He was raised to develop an appreciation of antiquities, which gave him the taste for discovering other cultures. Since starting his antique gallery in Riyadh in 1974, he has collected a large amount of Islamic art pieces, some of which are in display at this exhibition.