Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur · Malaysia · Founded 1998
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM), opened in December 1998 beside Kuala Lumpur's Perdana Botanical Garden, is Southeast Asia's largest museum of Islamic art. Open daily, 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM. Admission: RM20 for adults (same price for Malaysian and foreign visitors); RM10 for students and Malaysian seniors; free for children under 6. Allow 2–3 hours.
Visitor information last reviewed 25 September 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Daily: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Closed | on Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha |
| Admission | RM20 for adults (same price for Malaysian and foreign visitors); RM10 for students and Malaysian seniors; free for children under 6 |
| Free or reduced entry | Children under 6 free · Students RM10 with valid ID · Malaysian senior citizens RM10 (non-Malaysian seniors RM20) · Last entry 5:30 PM · Ramadan hours 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Booking | Tickets usually available on the day |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
| Best time to visit | Open daily, including Mondays. |
| Getting there | Train: Kuala Lumpur station (KTM Komuter and ETS): about a 5-minute walk past the National Mosque |
| Address | Jalan Lembah Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Official website | iamm.org.my |
Checked 2026-09-25 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia known for?
The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia opened in December 1998 and describes itself as the largest museum of Islamic art in Southeast Asia. It covers 30,000 square metres on Jalan Lembah Perdana, at the edge of the Perdana Botanical Garden (the former Lake Gardens) and right next to the National Mosque. Many Islamic art museums focus on Persia and the Middle East. IAMM instead set out to represent the whole Islamic world, with special weight on China, India and the Malay world, the three cultures that shaped Malaysia. It now holds more than 10,000 artefacts and runs a specialist Scholar's Library.
The building is modern, and its Islamic character comes from the details. Iranian tile-workers turned the iwan-style entrance into a ceramic tapestry that frames a verse from Surat al-Ankabut of the Qur'an. Craftsmen from Uzbekistan worked on the five domes that shape the interior, and the turquoise-tiled roof domes have become a Kuala Lumpur landmark. Inside, the curves of the domes contrast with angular, light-filled galleries. On the ground floor, the award-winning MOZA Restaurant has Qajar-style mirrorwork on its walls and opens onto a fountain garden.
The permanent collection fills 12 galleries on two floors. The first floor begins with the Architecture Gallery. It holds scale models of monuments from Mecca's Masjid al-Haram to the Taj Mahal and a mosque in Xi'an, plus the restored Ottoman Room. Next come the Qur'an & Manuscript Gallery and galleries for India, China and the Malay world. The upper floor is arranged by material: Arms & Armour, Jewellery, Textiles, Woodwork, Coins & Seals, Metalwork and Ceramics. Six 'lifestyle' cases also show objects in Ottoman, Persian, Spanish, Indian, Malay and Central Asian settings.
The galleries open daily from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, with last entry at 5:30 PM (9:30 AM to 5:00 PM during Ramadan). The museum closes only for Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha. No booking is needed, and tickets are sold at the lobby counter by cash or card. Special Galleries 1 and 2 host changing exhibitions. Until 25 April 2027 they show Tatreez: Reclaiming Palestine through Embroidery, which is included in the entrance fee. The National Mosque, KL Bird Park and the old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station are all a short walk away.
Best for: Art Lovers · Architecture Enthusiasts · History Enthusiasts · First-timers
How long do you need at Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia?
Allow 2–3 hours. Start with the first-floor architecture and manuscript galleries, then move through the Asian galleries and the upper-floor craft galleries. Follow the stops in order:
- 1
Architecture Gallery & Ottoman Room
📍 1st floor
Walk around the huge Masjid al-Haram model, then step into the 1820–21 Damascus reception room. Look up at its painted ceiling.
- 2
Qur'an & Manuscript Gallery
📍 1st floor
Compare the stark gold Kufic of the 'Blue Qur'an' folio with the lavishly illuminated Ottoman, Persian and Indian manuscripts.
- 3
India, China & Malay World galleries
📍 1st floor
Look for the 1546 Chinese Qur'an in Sini script, the Mughal jade and jewellery, and the keris of Sultan Abdul Jalil.
- 4
Arms & Armour, Jewellery, Textile and Ceramics galleries
📍 2nd floor
Take the ramp by the Museum Shop. These galleries are arranged by material, and the six lifestyle cases show objects in context.
- 5
Special Galleries 1 & 2 (Tatreez)
📍 Special Galleries
Until 25 April 2027: Palestinian embroidery from ten regions, from Galilee to Gaza. Included in admission.
What are the must-see works at Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia?
5 highlights that define the collection: Standard Chartered Ottoman Room (Damascus Room), Scale model of the Masjid al-Haram, Mecca, Folio from the 'Blue Qur'an' and more.
Standard Chartered Ottoman Room (Damascus Room)
Ottoman Syria · dated 1235 AH (1820–21)
📍 Architecture Gallery
A reception room (qa'a) from Ottoman Damascus covered in painted 'ajami wood panels. The red, green and gold flowers, fruit and architectural scenes show the European rococo influence that reached the Ottoman empire in the 19th century.
Scale model of the Masjid al-Haram, Mecca
Architecture Gallery model
📍 Architecture Gallery
One of the world's largest scale models of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca. It is the centrepiece of a gallery of models that also includes the Taj Mahal, a mosque in Xi'an and the Central Asian mausoleums of Timur and Amir Albukhari.
Folio from the 'Blue Qur'an'
North Africa · 9th–10th century
📍 Qur'an & Manuscript Gallery
A leaf from one of the most celebrated early Qur'an manuscripts, written in gold Kufic script on indigo-dyed parchment. It sits among the gallery's early Qur'an fragments, which include a folio from the Arabian Peninsula dated to the 7th–8th century.
Keris of Sultan Abdul Jalil
Riau Archipelago · dated 1124 AH (1712)
📍 Malay World Gallery
A dated royal keris, the wave-bladed dagger that stands for Malay kingship. It is part of the gallery's large keris display from across the Malay Archipelago.
Opening page from a Qur'an, signed Khalil Ibrahim Yunus al-Sini
Gansu, China · dated 953 AH (1546)
📍 China Gallery
A Ming-era Chinese Qur'an in the distinctive Sini script, and evidence of Islam's long presence in China. Nearby are cloisonné and porcelain made for Muslim patrons.
Collections and highlights
- • Architecture Gallery with scale models and the Ottoman Room
- • Qur'an & Manuscript Gallery
- • India Gallery (Mughal jewellery, jade and miniatures)
- • China Gallery
- • Malay World Gallery (keris, Qur'ans, silver)
- • Arms & Armour, Jewellery and Metalwork
- • Textiles, Ceramics, Coins & Seals and Living With Wood
Tips for visiting Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
- 1.
Best time to visit
Open daily, including Mondays. Arrive at 9:30 AM on a weekday, allow 2–3 hours, and avoid the two Hari Raya holidays when it closes. Hours are shorter (to 5:00 PM) during Ramadan.
- 2.
Crowds & busy periods
Usually calm; school and tour groups are more common in late morning, and weekends are busier.
- 3.
Tickets & booking
No booking needed for general visits. Buy at the lobby Customer Service counter (cash or card). The Tatreez special exhibition (to 25 April 2027) is included in the RM20 ticket.
- 4.
Food & cafés nearby
MOZA Restaurant & Café on the ground floor (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM). More choice at KL Sentral and around Pasar Seni (Central Market).
- 5.
Accessibility
Step-free main entrance with a wide automatic door; lifts to the Ground, 1st and 2nd floors; ramp between the 1st and 2nd floors; wheelchair-friendly toilets on the Ground Floor; benches throughout.
- 6.
Photography rules
No detailed policy is published. Personal non-flash photos are common in the permanent galleries. Avoid flash near manuscripts and textiles, and check signage in special exhibitions.
How do you get to Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia?
- train Kuala Lumpur station (KTM Komuter and ETS): about a 5-minute walk past the National Mosque
- metro Pasar Seni station (LRT Kelana Jaya Line and MRT Kajang Line): about a 10-minute walk past the National Mosque
- bus Free GOKL City Bus Red Route stops at Masjid Negara; KL Hop-On Hop-Off buses also stop there
- taxi About 5 minutes by taxi or Grab from KL Sentral. Set drop-off to 'Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (Front Entrance)' on Jalan Lembah Perdana; free parking bays nearby
Address: Jalan Lembah Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia: frequently asked questions
How much are tickets at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia?
Adult tickets cost RM20 for both Malaysian and foreign visitors. Students with a valid ID and Malaysian senior citizens pay RM10, non-Malaysian seniors pay the full RM20, and children under 6 enter free. Tickets are sold at the Customer Service counter in the lobby and can be paid by cash or card. No booking is needed for general visits, and the current special exhibition is included in the entrance fee.
What are the opening hours, and when is IAMM closed?
The galleries and shop open every day from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, with last entry at 5:30 PM. During Ramadan the museum closes earlier, at 5:00 PM. It closes only on Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha. Because both festivals follow the lunar Hijri calendar, check the museum's announcements if your trip falls near them.
How long should I spend at the Islamic Arts Museum?
Plan 2–3 hours for the highlights of Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia. Our 5-stop route — Architecture Gallery & Ottoman Room, Qur'an & Manuscript Gallery, India, China & Malay World galleries and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
How do I get to IAMM by public transport?
The closest rail stop is Kuala Lumpur station (KTM Komuter and ETS), about a 5-minute walk. Pasar Seni station (LRT Kelana Jaya Line and MRT Kajang Line) is about 10 minutes on foot. Both walks pass the National Mosque. The free GOKL City Bus Red Route stops at Masjid Negara, and a taxi or Grab from KL Sentral takes about five minutes.
What are the must-see highlights?
Start in the Architecture Gallery with the Standard Chartered Ottoman Room, a painted reception room from Damascus dated 1820–21, and one of the world's largest scale models of Mecca's Masjid al-Haram. Then look for a folio from the 'Blue Qur'an' in the Qur'an & Manuscript Gallery, a Chinese Qur'an dated 1546 in the China Gallery, and the keris of Sultan Abdul Jalil (1712) in the Malay World Gallery.
Can I take photos inside the museum?
The museum's website does not publish a detailed photography policy. Visitors commonly take personal photos without flash in the permanent galleries. Avoid flash and tripods near manuscripts and textiles. Special exhibitions that include loans may have their own rules, so follow the gallery signs and staff instructions.
Is there somewhere to eat at the museum?
Yes. MOZA Restaurant & Café on the ground floor has Qajar-style mirrorwork on its walls and sits next to a fountain garden. It is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with last orders at 4:30 PM. While the Tatreez exhibition runs, MOZA serves a special Palestinian-inspired menu. The museum shop sells IAMM publications and is open 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
What else is near the Islamic Arts Museum?
IAMM is right next to the National Mosque (Masjid Negara) at the edge of the Perdana Botanical Garden. KL Bird Park, the KL Butterfly Garden, the Royal Malaysia Police Museum, the National Planetarium and the old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station are all nearby. The National Museum is about a 20-minute walk away.
Is Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia open on Mondays?
Yes — Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia is open every day of the week, including Mondays and Sundays: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM. It closes on on Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha. Check the official website for holiday hours.
Is Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia free to visit?
Not for everyone. Standard admission: RM20 for adults (same price for Malaysian and foreign visitors); RM10 for students and Malaysian seniors; free for children under 6. Free or reduced entry: Children under 6 free; Students RM10 with valid ID; Malaysian senior citizens RM10 (non-Malaysian seniors RM20); Last entry 5:30 PM; Ramadan hours 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
