A significant piece of history changed hands at the 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair as a rare 14th-century manuscript detailing the legendary travels of Ibn Battuta sold for nearly Dh1 million. Provided by the London-based rare book dealer Peter Harrington, the text serves as a vital record of the explorer’s initial journeys between 1325 and 1333. It spans his extensive trek from Tangier through the Middle East, Central Asia, and East Africa, offering one of the few surviving medieval eyewitness accounts of the Hajj, as well as unique, early observations of the southern Gulf’s development, including regions like Oman and Sharjah.

This manuscript is remarkably scarce, as only seven copies of the Rihla are known to exist globally, most of which are either abridged or incomplete. Measuring 250 x 190mm and inscribed in elegant Maghribi script, the book is a testament to the meticulous documentation of the medieval world. Peter Harrington has become a fixture at UAE literary events, frequently showcasing historical treasures—such as Shakespeare’s First Folio and works by Ibn Sina—to regional collectors, further cementing the nation's growing reputation as a hub for rare and valuable historical artifacts.