Arab World Institute: museum, panoramic terrace and mashrabiya screens

Updated on September 30, 2026

On the banks of the Seine, opposite the Île Saint-Louis, the Arab World Institute (Institut du monde arabe, IMA) showcases the culture and civilization of the Arab world. Founded in 1980 by France and member countries of the Arab League, it occupies a glass-and-steel building designed by Jean Nouvel and Architecture-Studio, inaugurated in 1987. The museum spreads over several floors, with collections ranging from Antiquity to contemporary art: archaeology, Islamic art, manuscripts, everyday objects, jewelry and textiles. The IMA also hosts temporary exhibitions, a library, a bookshop and restaurants. Its rooftop terrace is free to access and offers an open view of Notre-Dame and the islands.

Highlights

The mashrabiya screens of the south facade

The south facade is made up of 240 metal panels that reinterpret mashrabiyas, the latticed screens of Arab architecture. Each panel contains diaphragms inspired by those of a camera, designed to open or close according to the light. From inside, their geometric patterns filter the daylight.

The panoramic terrace

On the roof of the building, the terrace is free to access, with no museum ticket needed. The view takes in the Seine, the Pont de la Tournelle, the Île Saint-Louis and the east end of Notre-Dame. It closes in bad weather.

The museum collections

The galleries bring together archaeological finds, Islamic art objects, ceramics, manuscripts and jewelry from across the Arab world. Among the pieces on display is a metal basin engraved with the name of the caliph al-Mustanjid, made in Cairo around 1455-1479.

Infos pratiques

Tips

Museum admission costs €10; it is free for under-26s on presentation of proof of age at the reception desk (prices as of September 2026). The terrace is free and needs no ticket; temporary exhibitions have their own ticket. From September 29, 2026 to February 28, 2027, the exhibition "Vive la mariée !" explores wedding traditions in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. The terrace closes in bad weather, so check the forecast before going up.