The Islamic Museum of Australia

The Islamic Museum of Australia (IMA) is proud to present its acclaimed photographic exhibition Boundless Plains at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant milestone in the Museum’s international engagement and cultural exchange work.

On display from 10 December 2025 to 31 January 2026, the exhibition featured a curated selection of 20 powerful images drawn from IMA’s permanent Boundless Plains gallery in Melbourne. Presented within one of the world’s most visited cultural and religious landmarks, the exhibition offered a unique opportunity to share Australian Muslim stories with a global audience.

Developed by IMA, Boundless Plains explores the rich and often underrepresented histories of Muslims in Australia. The exhibition traces early connections through Afghan cameleers and Malay pearl divers, and acknowledges longstanding relationships between Muslims from the Indonesian archipelago and First Nations communities, particularly the Yolŋu people of Arnhem Land and Makassan trepang fishermen. These historical narratives are presented alongside contemporary stories of migrants and refugees who continue to shape Australia’s diverse cultural landscape.

Through striking portraiture and storytelling, Boundless Plains invites audiences to reflect on themes of identity, belonging, faith and resilience, while highlighting Australia’s deep and enduring connections with the Muslim world.

The presentation of the exhibition in Abu Dhabi represents an important extension of IMA’s mission to foster intercultural understanding through art, history and education. It also builds on the exhibition’s international journey, following previous presentations in Jakarta, Brunei and Kuala Lumpur, and reinforces IMA’s role in contributing to global conversations about diversity and shared heritage.

The exhibition’s presentation in the United Arab Emirates has been made possible with the support of the Australian Embassy to the UAE, alongside the generous sponsorship of the Australian Multicultural Foundation. This support enabled IMA’s presence in Abu Dhabi and facilitated valuable opportunities to strengthen relationships with cultural institutions and partners in the region.

As Boundless Plains continues to reach new audiences, its presentation at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque stands as a powerful example of how storytelling can bridge cultures, deepen understanding and celebrate the connections that unite communities across borders.

Boundless Plains Presented at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi