Abu Dhabi, Jan. 29th, 2008 (WAM)--General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Umm Al Qaiwain crown prince attended yesterday a lecture on 'Islamic Art' at majlis of Sheikh Mohammed.

The lecture was delivered by professor Nasser Khalili, Islamic art collector and owner of 'Khalili treasures' in line with intellectual gatherings being held periodically by the majlis and attended by thinkers, scholars and elites to create understanding on a number of issues.

Present were UAE Interior Minister Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chief of Abu Dhabi crown prince's court and chairman of Higher Corporation for Specialized Economic Zones, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, other Sheikhs and high ranking officials.

Introduced by Mariam Amiri, strategic liaison official at the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority, Khalili said that his "activities focused over the last 30 years on collection of pieces of Islamic artwork", adding that "this is my main occupation where I find myself".

Professor Khalili is an Iranian scholar, collector and benefactor who assembled the collection under the auspices of the Khalili Family Trust.

He is considered an authoritative Islamic art collector who has assembled five major collections, including the largest privately owned Islamic collection. Khalili, who holds a PhD in Islamic Art from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, is also the author of several reference books about Islamic art including the Timeline History of Islamic Art and Architecture.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2008.