Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Hassan Ismail
Senior Academic Researcher in Arabic & Islamic Calligraphy and Manuscripts
Profile
Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Hassan Ismail is a senior academic researcher at the Center for Studies of Writings & Calligraphy, Bibliotheca Alexandrina (since 2006), specializing in Arabic scripts, Islamic manuscripts and documents, and their history and art.
He earned his PhD in 2015 on “Diwani Writings in the era of the Mamluk Sultans” (first-class honors), and his MA in 2010 on “Writing and the Book in Fatimid Egypt,” alongside specialized diplomas in calligraphy and gilding.
He serves as editorial secretary of the journal “Studies in Contemporary Arabic Calligraphy,” lectures on calligraphy and manuscripts in the postgraduate program at the Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University (since 2014), and is deputy head of the Arabic Calligraphers Syndicate in Alexandria (since 2012).
Born in Alexandria on 22 October 1983
Experience
- 2024 to 2025
Lecturer in Arabic Calligraphy
Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo (NVIC)
Teaching Arabic calligraphy within the institute’s programs.
- 2023
Artistic Advisor
Islamic Arts Biennale, Diriyah Biennale Foundation (first edition)
- Since 2022
Scholarly Advisor
Prince Mohammed bin Salman Center for Arabic Calligraphy
- 2019
Member, Higher Committee of the Cairo Forum for Arabic Calligraphy
By ministerial decree no. 268 of 2019.
- Since 2014
Postgraduate Lecturer
Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University
Teaching Arabic calligraphy and manuscripts to postgraduate students.
- Since 2012
Instructor in Arabic & Islamic Manuscripts
Institute of Arabic Manuscripts & Institute of Arab Research and Studies, Cairo
- Since 2012
Deputy Head, Calligraphers Syndicate, Alexandria
- Since 2006
Senior Academic Researcher
Center for Studies of Writings & Calligraphy, Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Research, documentation, and publishing in Islamic scripts, manuscripts, and documents; editorial secretary of the journal “Studies in Contemporary Arabic Calligraphy.”
Education
- 2024
Ijāza (Certified Chain of Transmission) in the Arabic Scripts
Conferred by the master of Egypt’s calligraphers, Khudair al-Borsaidy
The traditional license of excellence in the Arabic scripts and their history.
- 2015
PhD, Islamic History
“Diwani Writings in the era of the Mamluk Sultans,” supervised by Prof. Mohamed Ahmed Abolfadl, first-class honors.
- 2012
Qatar Art Center Scholarship (Doha)
Documenting antique Qurʼans in the collection of Sheikh Hassan bin Mohamed Al Thani.
- 2010
MA, Islamic History
“Writing and the Book in Fatimid Egypt,” with distinction.
- 2008
Specialized Diploma in Calligraphy & Gilding
Specialization in Fatimid Kufic.
- 2006
Diploma in Arabic Calligraphy
Mohamed Ibrahim School, Alexandria
- 2005
BA in Arts (History)
Tanta University
Publications
- Khudair Al-Borsaidy: An Egyptian School of Arabic Calligraphy · Bibliotheca Alexandrina, 2020
- Masterpieces of the Egyptian School of Arabic Calligraphy: Selections · Bibliotheca Alexandrina, 2017
- Calligrapher Sayed Ibrahim: A Dialogue of Script and History · Kuwait Center for Islamic Arts, 2016
- Al-Qasr: Reading a City through its Foundation Texts · Bibliotheca Alexandrina, 2014
- Sayed Ibrahim: Biography of the Dean of Calligraphers · Bibliotheca Alexandrina, 2013
- The Divan of Arabic Calligraphy in Egypt during Muhammad Ali's Dynasty · Bibliotheca Alexandrina, 2012
Documentation & Field Projects
- Scientific consultant, “Visual Encyclopedia of Arabic Letters,” Type Lab, The American University in Cairo
- Editor at the Digital Library of Inscriptions & Calligraphy (Arabic, Turkish, Persian)
- Juror, Granshan international type design competition (Since 2013)
- Documenting the inscriptions and ornament of Prince Mohamed Ali Palace, Manial (August 2016)
- Digitization and online publication of the Amiri script (2012 to 2013)
- Documenting heritage street signs in Cairo, Alexandria, Tanta, and Damanhur (2010 to 2012)
- Documenting the historical archive of calligrapher Sayed Ibrahim (Cairo) (2009 to 2012)
Memberships
- General Union of Arab Archaeologists
- Egyptian Society for Historical Studies
- Egyptian Society for Arabic Calligraphy