Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed witnesses the reopening of the “Al -Maqta Museum” after its restoration

His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, witnessed the reopening of the “Al -Maqta Museum” after a comprehensive rehabilitation and renewal process, through a joint initiative between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Police, aimed at protecting the heritage identity and preserving the cultural heritage of the emirate.

His Highness listened to an explanation about the most prominent stages that the museum’s restoration and rehabilitation project went through, and was seen on various departments, facilities and some historical holdings related to the Abu Dhabi police since its establishment, the most important of which are old official allowances and patrol cars that were previously used.

His Highness, during his inspection tour of the museum, praised the great efforts made by the concerned authorities for the preservation of historical monuments with national symbolism, which reflects the wealth of cultural and heritage heritage of the United Arab Emirates, especially the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, stressing His Highness the importance of documenting this national heritage and protecting it, because of its pivotal role in defining the generations of the present and the future with its historical value and its national symbolism The concepts of national identity in the conscience of the sons and daughters of the country.

The museum is located within the fortress of the clip, in the heart of the protected area that includes historical buildings and facilities that reflect the various stages of urban development witnessed by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, where the current building of the museum was used in the 1950s as the headquarters of the Customs Department and a police station, where it played a pivotal role in monitoring traffic between the mainland and the island of Abu Dhabi, before the construction of the “City Bridge”, which is the first bridge that connects the island with the external areas.

This bridge came to complete the role played by the “clip tower”, the first fortified fort to protect the water crossing, and it still exists until today tall in the creek of the clip as the first fort to guard the water crossing.

On this occasion, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, head of the founder’s office at the Presidential Court, affirmed that the reopening of the “Al -Maqta Museum” after its comprehensive rehabilitation and renewal comes a translation of the guidance of the wise leadership seeking to preserve the cultural heritage and historical monuments of the UAE, to remain tall beacons that testify to the wisdom of the ancestors, and embody the authentic human and cognitive values.

He added that the museum is an important edifice in the march of this good land, and narrates the biography of an ancient heritage, as the reopening of this cultural edifice represents a qualitative addition to the rich tourist and cultural scene in the state, as the museum is an authentic witness to the civilized march of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and its transformation from a vibrant commercial center to a modern capital that keeps pace with the aspirations of the future, without separating from its roots.

The museum, which has been renewed by the efforts made by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Police in presenting the history of this site and promoting it before society and visitors on a large scale. The restoration project included the same building and its interpretative content. For the time, the plaster was replaced with a more homogeneous and durable substance, very similar to the original appearance.

In early 1761, Sheikh Dhiab bin Isa Al Nahyan, who was the sheikh of the Bani Yas tribe in the Liwa Interior Oasis, visited repeated visits to Abu Dhabi Island, and with its growth it became important to strengthen the defenses of Abu Dhabi, where Sheikh Shakhbout bin Dhiab bin Isa Al Nahyan supervised the construction of the “Country Tower” in the late eighteenth century, which was protecting the “crossing” between the island of Abu Dhabi.

The “clip tower” is still tall at the heart of the water crossing (Al -Khor), preserving its historical position, and the tower underwent a precise restoration carried out by the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi in 2022, with the aim of addressing the repeated damage to it as a result of the natural effects of the marine environment. Until the fifties of the last century, the tower formed a prominent sign of travelers coming to Abu Dhabi Island, where he stood up a steadfast guard that protects the crossing and indicates the outskirts of the city.

In the late fifties of the last century, a bridge was constructed that connects the mainland to Abu Dhabi Island, and on the mainland, a police traffic control center was constructed to and from Abu Dhabi Island.

This building later became a center for the Customs Department, and continued to work until the establishment of the Federation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971, and after this period there is no longer a need for a customs circle to search goods on the borders leading to Abu Dhabi Island.

Accordingly, the building, which was renovated by the syllable, was subjected to a comprehensive restoration, and in 2002, it was converted into a museum that celebrates its deep social, cultural and historical importance of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.