- Title: UAE-OLD CITY RESTORATION Dubai restores Old City to its former glory
- Date: 6th August 2015
- Summary: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (AUGUST 5, 2015) (REUTERS) RENOVATED WIND TOWER AND WATCH TOWER, THE SHINDAGHA AT HISTORICAL SITE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) FLAG FLYING ON TOP OF WATCH TOWER VARIOUS OF WORKERS HAMMERING CORAL STONE FOR USE IN RENOVATION OF HISTORIC HOMES VARIOUS OF WORKERS RESTORING OLD HOMES AT THE SHINDAGHA HISTORICAL SITE VARIOUS OF WORKERS REBUILDING THE W
- Embargoed: 21st August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Arab Emirates
- Country: United Arab Emirates
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA197UFIZ8OGAB75D1ZK31WMZYF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hidden in between Dubai's bright lights and modern skyscrapers, architects, construction workers and historians are busy renovating and rebuilding the city's historic sites in order to preserve its heritage.
Dating back to 1861, Shindagha, located in the heart of Dubai on the salt water creek that winds through the city, was once home to the Sheikhs that founded it. Today, their homes, their mosques, and market places are being renovated and rebuilt as a cultural and historic hub in this ultra-modern metropolis.
"The objective behind preserving Dubai's architectural heritage is to preserve this history by preserving historic buildings, castles, towers, homes, mosques and old markets," said Rashad Mohammed Bukhash, CEO of the Architectural Heritage department.
"We are preserving a part of this country's history, and no doubt this is important for any nation in the world. This is our heritage, this is our civilization. We are proud of it and want to show it to the world," he added.
According to Bukhash, their goal is to ensure Shindagha and its 192 historic buildings will qualify as a UNESCO World Heritage Site once renovation is complete in 2018.
Thus far, 66 buildings have been renovated, some built entirely from scratch. Once the Old City is completed, it will be surrounded by boutique hotels, restaurants, museums and other cultural centres.
"Cultural tourism is also now another important issue for us on a global scale. In the UAE in Dubai last year we had some 12 million tourists, and just like they come to see the modern side of Dubai, Burj Khalifa and the malls and such, they also come to see the history of this country," emphasised Bukhash.
"A lot of tourists in fact say that they come here not to see the skyscrapers and the modern buildings but rather the old and the historic. So the old markets, the old buildings, the old museums, it's a very important part of our history," he added.
Shindagha was strategically located at the entrance to the Dubai creek on a narrow strip of land which overlooks the Arabian Gulf from the north and west, and the Dubai creek from the East.
The total area under renovation is 3600 square metres. The objective is to build homes in the exact same style as 200 years ago.
"It is important that we use the materials that were used in the old days, so for example, in rebuilding the walls (of old homes) we use coral stone that we bring in from Yemen, and Gypsum," said Sara Bastaki, the project's senior renovation engineer.
"For the ceiling we use Chandal wood (from Mangrove trees) from Zanzibar, and palm tree fronds, leaves and burned mud for the finishing. The material has to be the same as used in the past so you get the same feeling," she added.
The site has proved to be an unexpected surprise for the millions of tourists that flock to this city annually.
"I did not expect this kind of old set up and it's really amazing to keep the old look and tradition and culture," said Srini Alavala, an American tourist visiting Dubai with his family from Atlanta, Georgia. "That is very critical for keeping the old tradition in the new development and environment," he said.
Dubai as a city dates back to 1587, when it was first mentioned as a pearl trading hub by an Italian jeweller from Venice, Gasparo Balbi.
Dubai is still famous for its jewels, for its glitz and its glamour. But in recent years, a greater focus has been placed on preserving its heritage.
"Of course, just like Sheikh Zayed (first president of the UAE) God bless his soul, used to say: "Those without a past have no present and no future," so it's very important to preserve our past so we can live in our present and build our future." said Bukhash.
The Shindagha renovation project is part of a larger architectural heritage preservation initiative that began in 1991 with a team of just six staff. Today, the team has grown to 370 people. Over 211 buildings have been renovated to date and the team hopes that the historical site will attract visitors from across the globe. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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