Modern Architectural Heritage
of the UAE Initiative

During the early 1960s, a period of accelerated growth triggered a radical change in UAE’s built environment. The establishment and growth of cities, new neighborhood configurations, and construction of buildings represented a break from the past resulting from nation-building processes that transformed society, politics, and the economy. It also highlighted institutional buildings and infrastructural projects across the UAE, such as civic buildings, schools, public housing and hospitals.

The architecture during this period shares many of the characteristics of work of the Modern Movement; however, the particular response to context, climate and culture meant these buildings and/or sites departed from the main considerations of Modernism, resulting in place-specific adaptations. These buildings were often designed by locally focused practices that incorporated both reinterpreted traditional/vernacular and/or regional elements as well as Modernist typologies. New materials and methods of construction were also incorporated in these large-scale urban planning and infrastructure projects embodied aspirations towards modernity.