About us
The Al Tajir Trust was founded as a UK charity in 1982 by His Excellency Mohamed Mahdi Al Tajir to build on the success of the 1976 World of Islam Festival. Originally named ‘the Al Tajir World of Islam Festival Trust’ it became the Al Tajir Trust in 2000. It is based in London and is financed through charitable donations from His Excellency Mohamed Mahdi Al Tajir and his family. The Trust became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in 2014.
Current trustees
Professor Charles Tripp, Chairman
Dr Noel Brehony CMG
Dr Melanie Gibson
Dr Elisabeth Kendall
Current Director
Richard Muir CMG
Current trustees
Professor Charles Tripp, Chairman
Dr Noel Brehony CMG
Dr Melanie Gibson
Dr Elisabeth Kendall
Current director
Richard Muir CMG
The 1976 World of Islam Festival and the origins of the Trust
The World of Islam Festival took place in London and in other centres in the UK over several months in 1976. The aim was to “promote knowledge, appreciation and understanding of the Muslim world”. At the time it was the largest ever presentation of Islamic material culture in a Western country and a major event in the history of representations of Islam in Europe. It contributed to a new awakening in Europe to the significance of Islamic civilisation and was instrumental in establishing what has become the contemporary Islamic arts scene.
His Excellency Mohamed Mahdi Al Tajir, then Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, was instrumental in providing vital financial underpinning for the Festival. To continue the work of the Festival he supported the establishment of a UK registered charity, The Al Tajir World of Islam Festival Trust (WIFT), in 1982.
