The Ministry of Culture launches a plaque "Union House" In celebration of its inclusion in the National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage

DUBAI, 16 JULY / WAM / The Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Al Sarkal Consulting Foundation, announced the inclusion of “Etihad House” in the National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage, during the visit of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairwoman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, and His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture, to the House building, in a step that reflects the UAE’s commitment to strengthening national identity and consolidating generations’ connection to the history of their homeland, by preserving national monuments of historical value. cultural and architectural.

The visit witnessed the unveiling of the official plaque for listing “Union House” in the National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage, which was launched by the Ministry of Culture with the aim of documenting and protecting buildings and sites of architectural and historical importance in the UAE, and highlighting its role in shaping the national memory and strengthening the country’s cultural identity.

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi toured the corridors of “Union House” and viewed the most prominent stages of the founding of the Union and the pivotal role that the site played in the history of the UAE, as it witnessed the meetings that paved the way for the announcement of the Union on December 2, 1971, so that it remains a national symbol that embodies the values ​​​​of unity, cohesion and the common vision of the Founding Fathers.

The visit also included a dialogue session with His Excellency Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor to His Highness the President of the State, entitled “Union House: A Celebration of Modern Architectural Heritage,” in the presence of a number of national figures who lived through the founding of the Union and witnessed its historical events. The participants reviewed their memories and experiences related to “Union House,” confirming its status as a living witness to one of the most important milestones in the country’s history.

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stressed that “Etihad House” represents a prominent national and cultural beacon and a witness to the nation’s memory and its journey. It is the place that brought together the founding fathers and witnessed the birth of the UAE, which made the human being the focus of development and ambition an approach to achievement.

Her Highness said: “Union House has an exceptional place in our memory, as it is a bridge that connects the past to the present and an important national symbol linked to a historical moment created by the founding fathers who laid the foundations of the union to embody the aspirations of our society for unity and excellence. Under the roof of this place the dream turned into reality, and from it began the journey of building a country that was able – thanks to the vision of its wise leadership – to present to the world a unique model of development, leadership and anticipating tomorrow, so that the values of the union on which our journey was founded remain a source of inspiration.” It leads our present and shapes our future.”

Her Highness expressed her pride in including Union House as the first site in the National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage, in appreciation of its historical status and architectural importance, which contributes to consolidating awareness of the value of national monuments and preserving the UAE’s cultural heritage.

She added that this step embodies the UAE’s commitment to preserving the monuments that preserve our societal memory, including human stories and authentic values, documents the story of the Emirates, commemorates the efforts of the founding fathers who created the country and contributed to shaping its identity, highlights the richness of our heritage, and enhances its presence in future generations.

For his part, His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi stressed that the inclusion of “Union House” in the National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage embodies the status of this exceptional national edifice that was associated with one of the most important historical moments in the history of the UAE, noting that preserving buildings and sites of historical and architectural value constitutes a fundamental pillar in efforts to preserve national identity and enhance the connection of future generations with the history of their homeland.

He said that “Union House” represents an immortal symbol that embodies the story of unity that laid the foundations of the UAE and established its development and civilizational path, and by including it in the National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage, we affirm our commitment to protecting sites that carry exceptional national and cultural value, and ensuring their sustainability as sources of knowledge and inspiration, and living evidence of the achievements that the country has achieved since the establishment of the Union.

His Excellency added that the National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage contributes to documenting buildings and sites that formed part of the urban, cultural and social transformations that the UAE has witnessed over the past decades, and celebrating them in a way that supports research and documentation efforts, and enhances the status of modern architectural heritage as one of the tributaries of the national cultural identity.

The inclusion of “Union House” in the National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage comes in line with the efforts of the Ministry of Culture aimed at documenting elements of the cultural and architectural heritage in the country, and enhancing awareness of the importance of modern buildings that were linked to pivotal stages in the history of the UAE.

The Union House building, which was built in 1965, is one of the most prominent historical landmarks in the country. It was used by the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, may God have mercy on him, to host official meetings that contributed to establishing the foundations of the Union.

On December 2, 1971, the building hosted the signing ceremony of the UAE Constitution and the announcement of the establishment of the Union, commemorating one of the most important milestones in the history of the region. It also hosted a number of Gulf meetings and official visits by senior leaders during the 1960s and 1970s.

The “Union House” building, which was initially known as the “Destination Palace,” is distinguished by the uniqueness of its architectural design, which combines simplicity and authenticity, and reflects the aesthetic features of local architecture at the beginning of the second half of the last century.

It consists of two overlapping parts, one surrounding the other, and is based on cylindrical concrete columns, while its facades are entirely made of glass and aluminium, with the exception of the ceiling and floor, which were completed using modern building materials. Today, it becomes part of the Union Museum, and continues its role in documenting the process of founding the state, preserving national memory, and introducing generations to the story of the Union and its values.

It is noteworthy that the National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage, which was recently launched in conjunction with the first meeting of the National Identity Committee under the umbrella of the National Identity Strategy and the National Policy for Modern Architectural Heritage, includes in its first phase ten selected buildings that represent pivotal stations in the development of modern architecture in the country, namely: Union House in Dubai, Rashid Tower, which constituted a milestone in the emergence of the modern commercial and economic scene in the emirate since its opening in 1979, and the Clock Tower in Deira in Dubai, as one of the oldest urban symbols. For the city, the National Advisory Council at Qasr Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi, which is linked to the beginnings of institutional and legislative work since 1968, the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi, as a pioneering platform for cultural and artistic movement since its founding in 1982, the Islamic Institute at the UAE University in Al Ain, which reflects the development of modern educational and religious architecture since 1976, and the Khalid bin Mohammed School in the Emirate of Sharjah, as a prominent model of educational architecture associated with planning residential neighborhoods, in addition to a school Al Qasimia in Sharjah, which represents an advanced stage in the design of modern public schools since the 1980s, the Special Education Support Center in Sharjah, as an example of the architecture of specialized educational services in the post-union phase, and Saqr Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, which embodies the development of modern health infrastructure and its pivotal role in the societal memory of the country since 1981.

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