Arabic Calligraphy in Abu Dhabi

Calligraphy is a term used to denote decorated handwriting or written scripts. Arabic is a language that has one of the most beautiful written scripts. The Arabic scripts have developed over the centuries. Scholars suggest that the Arabic script may have developed from the Nabataean or the Canaanite Script. The First Arabic Script appeared in the 5th century BC. Evidence suggests that the Arabic Musnad script was in practice until the 6th century. The Arabic Musnad was very much similar to the Aramaic Nabataean and Canaanite scripts and do not resemble the modern Arabic script. The Al Jazm script that developed after the Musnad is a more Arabic like script. Scholars claim that the Al Jazm script was influenced by the Nabataean script and by the Syrian and Persian scripts. The Al Jazm script is believed to have been developed by the tribes of Northern Africa. The Al Jazm script was used until the early Islamic period in the Arabian Peninsula. The Kufic script that evolved from the Musnad and the Al Jazm scripts was the script that was commonly used to record the Quran. It was the most commonly used Arabic Script until the 13th century AD. The Term Kufic comes from the word Kufa which is a city in Iraq, where the script is believed to have been developed. There are various versions of the Kufic script that has been developed in other regions especially in Egypt and Iraq. The Art of Calligraphy is still in vogue in the Arab world and in other countries where Islam is practiced. There are cultural centers in UAE that promote Arabic calligraphy. Adults and kids could take part in calligraphy classes where the techniques along with the history of Arabic calligraphy are taught. Arabic calligraphy is used also in the manufacture of signs and signage. Companies that specialize in manufacturing signs with the use of Arabic calligraphy are found in Mussafah in Abu Dhabi.