Dubai’s Dh500m Union Museum plan approved
Landmark project will include a theatre, educational wing and recreational area
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday endorsed the Union Museum project at a cost of Dh500 million. The museum will be constructed at the historic Union House where the signing of the document establishing the UAE took place in 1971.
The Union Museum aims to be a cultural beacon to educate citizens, residents and visitors about the UAE’s modern history and its achievements.
The museum’s location includes restored historic buildings, and the entrance is designed in the shape of a manuscript with seven columns that symbolise the pen used to sign the declaration. The museum will have among other things a theatre, educational area and recreational area. The RTA will supervise the execution of the project, while Dubai Culture will manage and operate the museum on its completion.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the construction of the Union Museum at a cost of Dh500 million.
Covering 25,000 square metres, the museum will be constructed beside Union House, where the document creating the UAE was signed in 1971, and is the site of the second biggest UAE flag, which measures 20 metres by 40 metres, and flies 120 metres above the ground.
Shaikh Mohammad approved the project as he viewed the design and interior components of the Union Museum building project, in the presence of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
He was briefed by the members of the Board of Trustees and technical team of the museum about the details of the project, which will be an important cultural addition that chronicles a significant stage of the UAE’s modern history.
The RTA will supervise the execution of the project, while Dubai Culture will manage and operate the museum on its completion.
Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais, Minister of Health and Board Chairman of Dubai Culture, and Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority, were present.
Manuscript-shaped entrance
The museum will be a monument narrating the full story of the federation, the formation of the UAE and futuristic drive of this country.
The project will include a host of restored historical buildings, with the entrance taking the shape of a manuscript along with seven inclined columns signifying the pen used in signing the constituent document.
The museum will comprise temporary and permanent galleries, a theatre, cultural areas, and a number of facilities for activities, as well as parking.
It will highlight events that took place from 1968-1974 and the political and social course of the UAE, from the stage of separate emirates until the completion of the union and the phase of prosperity witnessed in all walks of life.
The museum aims to reinvigorate the historical value of the site and the building that witnessed the signing and the announcement of the establishment of the UAE, and converting the present building into a museum that acts as a radiation hub for citizens, residents and tourists to know more about phases and challenges of establishing the federation together with the achievements made throughout this period.
Instil values
The project also aims to instil and disseminate the concept and value of the federation in the eyes of citizens and future generations, document the evolution phases of the federation, with emphasis on the role of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum in laying the building blocks of the federation.
It will familiarise visitors with the lifestyle of residents of the Emirates before the formation of the federation (ie: the culture of Bedouin and seafarers), and spotlighting the sweeping development and key achievements made throughout the blessed history of the UAE.