Other great museums around the world have important Islamic collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York or the Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin. Why choose the Louvre?

While there are indeed other important collections of Islamic Art, we found that the situation at the Louvre was unique in that the museum holds one of the world's most comprehensive Islamic Art collections but was only able to display about a tenth of that collection, leaving much of it in storage for many years. Quite simply this important collection needed a home.
 
What is hoped will be achieved through this donation?

Our foundations are very focused on promoting intercultural understanding and dialogue. Art is certainly a universal language and one through which people of many varied cultures can begin to understand and relate to one another. Our hope is that in supporting the Louvre's initiative to offer more of their impressive collection to the public we are supporting and encouraging that kind of understanding.
 
Is the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation planning to donate to other museums elsewhere?

We are always open to initiatives and programs that are in line with the foundation's core objectives: Intercultural dialogue and understanding; women's rights and empowerment; poverty alleviation; and aid and relief. We believe strongly in the power of public educational institutions such as universities and museums and will continue to consider projects in these types of organizations.