Art and Culture

The UAE Ministry of Culture has announced the recipients of the first cycle of the Modern Heritage Research Grants Programme, a five-year initiative designed to support academic, research-based, and creative projects focused on documenting and reinterpreting the UAE’s modern architectural heritage from the 1960s to 1980s.

The programme, launched with total funding of AED 800,000, is being delivered in collaboration with Zayed University and MAJRA – National CSR Fund. It aims to strengthen the country’s research and creative ecosystem while positioning the UAE as a leading hub for modern architectural heritage studies, critical thinking, and knowledge production.

Strategic Push to Preserve Modern Architectural Identity

H.E. Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, said the programme represents a significant step toward raising awareness of the UAE’s modern built heritage and preserving the memory of its urban transformation.

He noted that the grants programme is one of the most tangible outcomes of the National Policy for Preserving Modern Architectural Heritage, launched in 2024, and reflects the Ministry’s commitment to expanding specialised research and documentation in this field.

Professor Michael Allen, Provost of Zayed University, said the university’s involvement supports interdisciplinary research aligned with national priorities and enables evidence-based scholarship that informs heritage preservation, education, and future urban development discourse.

Mohammad Al Qassim, Director of Strategic Affairs and Sponsorship at MAJRA, said the fund’s participation aligns CSR resources with research and cultural initiatives that deliver long-term social impact, adding that documenting modern architectural heritage contributes to preserving national identity and strengthening the knowledge ecosystem.

Wide Range of Research Themes Selected

The selected projects cover diverse themes across architecture, urbanism, culture, and design. Among the funded studies are:

1. Beyond the Façade by Omar Darwish — examining how UAE architecture responded to cultural, environmental, and social conditions in the late twentieth century

2. Legacy of Precast Concrete by Dr. Bassem Mohammed and Dr. Nahed Chakouf — studying the evolution of concrete in modern construction

3. Urban Threads by Charlie Koolhaas — linking Dubai’s architectural memory with fashion design

4. Forms of Intention by Dr. Roberto Fabbri — exploring the legacy of Iraqi modernist architect Rifat Chadirji

5. Mapping Modernity by Dr. Khaula Al Kaabi — documenting Abu Dhabi’s architectural heritage from 1960 to 1990

6. Everyday Modernity by Gayathri Rajendran — recording the cultural and urban heritage of Dubai’s Al Karama district

7. Mulhaq by Amer Madhoun — analysing annex structures in Emirati homes as social-architectural elements

8. Digital Modern UAE by Serkan Gunay — integrating heritage preservation with digital methods

9. The Invisible Fabric by Dr. Hadeel Elnaggar — documenting the role of Emirati women in modern urban spaces

10. Dubai’s Industrial Heritage by Asiya Siddiqi — recording factories and industrial landmarks

Additional projects explore cross-border architectural exchange with Kuwait, Tunisia, and Bulgaria, the heritage of markets and postal buildings, neighbourhood rehabilitation, small-city development such as Ruwais, and evolving material and design patterns across the UAE.

The Ministry said the initiative forms part of its broader strategy to preserve, study, and promote modern architectural heritage, while expanding its cultural and academic visibility both locally and internationally.

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