Dubai to restore 35 additional heritage buildings and sites
LANDMARKS SERVE AS SYMBOLS OF EMIRATE’S JOURNEY
Aproject launched to preserve Dubai’s heritage architecture will restore 35 additional buildings and sites in its second phase, bringing the total sites to 807.
The initial phase covered 17 archaeological sites, 14 historical areas, and 741 buildings.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, yesterday approved the second phase.
In a video shared on social media by the Government of Dubai Media Office, elderly residents spoke about their memories of landmarks such as the Clock Tower Roundabout, old Dubai Airport terminal, the ‘revolving restaurant’ (on top of Hyatt Regency Dubai), among others.
The sites and buildings covered by this project serve as symbols of the emirate’s journey through the years. The second phase focuses on the preservation of 35 areas, sites, and buildings dating from the 1960s to the 1990s. These include Dubai’s old neighbourhoods and buildings, which Shaikh Hamdan described as an “open museum of human heritage”.
He added that the project aims to foster cultural continuity, highlighting the enduring relationship between the people and their environment.
Past meets present
“We have a responsibility to celebrate our history and protect our architectural treasures for future generations. The heritage areas covered by the project hold the memory of decades of progress and symbolise the dawn of Dubai’s renaissance. Located in the heart of modern Dubai, these sites bridge the past with the city’s future aspirations. Dubai invites the world to witness its past, present, and the future, all together in one place,” he said.
Dawoud Al Hajri, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, noted that preservation efforts not only honour the historical significance of these sites but also aim to share this rich heritage with future generations.
We have a responsibility to celebrate our history and protect our architectural treasures for future generations. The heritage areas covered by the project hold the memory of decades of progress and symbolise the dawn of Dubai’s renaissance.”
Shaikh Hamdan
Shaikh Rashid’s vision
This phase highlights the impact of Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum’s vision, which has significantly shaped the city’s rapid development and modernisation during that period.
In the first phase, Dubai Municipality focused on preserving buildings from Dubai’s earlier historical periods. This phase aimed to “document and protect” these structures.
Buildings, sites and areas covered by this phase included the Al Shindagha Heritage District, the Naif area, and Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, among others.