The Ministry of Culture announces the list of researchers receiving a grant from the funding program to encourage research in the field of modern heritage
Abu Dhabi, 5 February / WAM / The Ministry of Culture announced the names of the winners of the first round of the grant of the financing program to encourage research and studies in the field of modern heritage, which aims to support research, studies, and academic and creative projects that document the modern architectural heritage in the UAE and reread it during the period extending from the 1960s to the 1980s, as it is a basic pillar and an integral part of the Emirati national identity.
The program is being implemented in partnership with Zayed University and the National Fund for Social Responsibility “Majra”, over a period of five years, with a total financial support amounting to 800 thousand dirhams, as part of the joint efforts aimed at strengthening the scientific and creative research system, and consolidating the UAE’s position as a leading platform for research, critical thinking, and knowledge production in the field of modern architectural heritage.
His Excellency Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, said: “This program represents a strategic step to enhance awareness of the importance of modern architectural heritage in the UAE, and direct support for researchers and creators who contribute to preserving the memory of modern cities in the country and documenting it for future generations. It will at the same time contribute to building a local and international knowledge network, and consolidate the UAE’s position as an incubator for creativity and scientific research in this unique field.”
His Excellency added: “The announcement of the list of winning researchers embodies one of the most prominent practical outcomes of the national policy for preserving the modern architectural heritage of the United Arab Emirates, which was launched by the Ministry in 2024, and confirms the Ministry’s commitment to supporting the production of specialized knowledge and expanding the circle of scientific documentation of modern architectural heritage.”
For his part, Dr. Michael Allen, Vice Chancellor of Zayed University for Academic Affairs, stressed that Zayed University’s participation reflects its commitment to promoting interdisciplinary scientific research, establishing a culture of critical thinking, and producing knowledge in line with the country’s national priorities.
He added that this cooperation supports academic and creative research, and contributes to consolidating the modern architectural heritage of the UAE as a field of study, teaching, and cultural documentation, in addition to enabling researchers to produce evidence-based visions that contribute to supporting heritage preservation efforts, developing education, and enriching future urban discourse.
Muhammad Al-Qassim, Director of the Strategic Affairs and Welfare Department at the National Fund for Social Responsibility, said: “Majara’s support for this program comes within the framework of our commitment to our role as a national enabler that directs social responsibility resources towards research and cultural initiatives with a sustainable impact. Modern architectural heritage forms an integral part of national memory, and documenting it contributes to preserving identity and enhancing knowledge. We believe in Majra that empowering researchers and academic institutions is a pivotal path to promoting innovation and building an integrated knowledge system, as this initiative represents a model.” For purposeful national partnerships that are consistent with the state’s directions and translate social responsibility into a tangible impact that serves society and future generations.”
The list of winners included qualitative projects that dealt with multiple topics, most notably “Behind the Facade” by researcher Omar Darwish, which investigates how architecture in the UAE in the late twentieth century responded to cultural, environmental and social conditions, and “The Legacy of Precast Concrete” by Dr. Bassem Mohammed and Dr. Nahid Shaqouf, to study the development of the use of concrete in modern construction in the country, and “Threads of the City” by researcher Charlie Koolhaas, which explores the activation of the architectural memory of the city of Dubai in the mid-twentieth century through fashion design, and “Shapes of Intention.” by Dr. Roberto Fabbri, which deals with the forgotten legacy of the Iraqi architect Rifaat Al-Chadirji, one of the most prominent modernist architects in the Middle East, and “Educational Rhythms” by academic Azza Abu Alam and researcher Nour Nidal, about the architectural and cultural exchange between Kuwait and the UAE during the period from the 1950s to the 1990s, and “Shared Aspirations” by researcher Amina Rajab, Salma Gharbi, and Emna Tuiti, which highlights the architectural exchange between Tunisia. The UAE during the second half of the twentieth century, and “State Building” by Irene Pacena and Dr. Ayman Fathi Ashour and Dr. Wael Ali Rashdan, on the impact of architectural exchange between Kuwait and the UAE in the late twentieth century on the modernist heritage and national identity using federal post offices as case studies, in addition to “The Annex” by researcher Amer Madhoun, who studies the “annex” architecture as an authentic architectural-social component in Emirati homes, and “Monitoring Modernism” by Dr. Khawla Al Kaabi, which highlights the modernist architectural heritage in Abu Dhabi during the period from 1960 to 1990, “Streets of Memory” by Dr. Dalia Hafez, which deals with the rehabilitation of modern heritage neighborhoods in Dubai, “Everyday Modernity” by researcher Gayatri Rajendran, which documents the cultural and urban heritage of the Karama neighborhood in Dubai, and “Modern Emirati Heritage” by Dr. Hala Aslan, which reformulates the concept of markets as living heritage.
The list of winners also included “Lines on the Sand” by researcher Valentina Mirceva, about the influence of Bulgarian architects in Abu Dhabi, and “Postal Modernisms” by Dr. Majdi Falih, Dr. Ahmed Sukkar, Professor Soraya Sanusi, Dr. Omar Jawad, and Dr. Majed Musa, which documents the civil heritage linked to societal memory in the Emirates, and “Records of the Absent” by researchers Aya Al-Khatib, Rand Tayfour, and Zakia Al-Omari, which explores the vanishing layers of memory. Urban Abu Dhabi along one street, “Features of local culture in the modern urban heritage in the Emirates” by researcher Sultan Al Hammadi, on the impact of local culture on the form and content of modern heritage, “Al Ruwais” by researcher Rashid Al Mulla and Salem Al Suwaidi, on the importance of small cities and their role in the Emirates’ industrial history and future planning, “The Modern Digital Emirates” by Dr. Serkan Gunay, which deals with linking heritage preservation with innovative digital methods, and “The Invisible Fabric” by Dr. Hadeel Al-Najjar, which documents the role of Emirati women in the modern urban spaces of the Emirate of Umm al-Quwain, and “Maps of Materials” by researchers Nahila Al-Himyari, Maryam Bin Bishr, and Salma Hani Ali, on the development of modernist architectural styles in the Emirates, and “Industrial Heritage in Dubai” by researcher Asia Anwar, which documents industrial landmarks in Dubai.
It is worth noting that this initiative comes within the Ministry of Culture’s ongoing efforts to preserve and document modern architectural heritage, and to enhance its presence in the cultural and research scene locally and globally.
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