UAE committed to restoring Iraqi heritage
Committee for reconstruction of heritage monuments holds first meeting
The Joint Steering Committee for the Reconstruction and Restoration of Al Nouri mosque and Al Hadba’ minaret in Mosul, Iraq, held its first meeting in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
In her opening address, Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, reiterated the UAE’s support for Iraq in its efforts to maintain security and stability and build effective state institutions capable of realising peace. Al Kaabi urged committee members to work together to deliver the $50.4-million (Dh185 million) landmark project.
She said: “The restoration and reconstruction Al Nouri Mosque and the Al Hadba’ Minaret in Mosul came while the UAE is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of its founding father, the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
“This project reflects Shaikh Zayed’s legacy and his unflinching commitment to supporting Arab brothers and contributing positively to the prosperity of their countries. The project sets a model for highlighting the UAE’s role as a champion for safeguarding world heritage and conserving cultural resources in war zones by adopting sustainable initiatives that guarantee the rights of generations to archaeological and cultural sites.”
The original Al Hadba’ was a famous leaning 45-metre minaret, built over 840 years ago.
The landmark restoration project sends a message of hope and optimism to Iraq’s younger generations as active enablers of the reconstruction process, Al Kaabi added.
“It will generate 1,000 jobs and training opportunities over the five years and once completed, stimulate cultural tourism and development in Mosul. Finally, it will contribute to building a viable, prosperous city, which will restore itself as centre for science and culture,” Al Kaabi noted.
In a statement to WAM, Al Kaabi said the UAE is committed to supporting such projects to restore historic and cultural landmarks, especially those destroyed by terrorist organisations like Daesh.
“The first steps of reconstruction should focus on the restoration of Mosul’s heritage sites,” she said, adding that the five-year cultural project will be undertaken by experts from the UAE and Unesco.