The Historic Urban Landscape Workshop, organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and attended by archaeology and heritage experts, concluded in Al Ain.
The workshop, held from 4 to 5 February, aimed to promote heritage preservation by consolidating the efforts of all stakeholders working to preserve Al Ain cultural heritage sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Participants discussed studies and expertise relevant to the preservation of Al Ain’s historical assets, and introduced stakeholders to the UNESCO Historic Urban Landscape programme, which looks to strike a balance between preservation and contemporary urban development.
Abdul Rahman Al Nuaimi, World Heritage Sites Section Manager at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “This incredibly informative and useful workshop reflects the efforts of DCT Abu Dhabi to develop archaeological sites in Al Ain, home to an exquisite collection of heritage assets, while being cognizant of challenges that arise when also facing expanding urban developments. We aim to utilise international expertise in these areas to most effectively develop Al Ain and its cultural sites in line with UAE Vision 2021, to establish a cohesive community proud of its identity, as well as Plan Al Ain 2030, to promote the city as a touristic, cultural and historic destination.”
“DCT Abu Dhabi aims to raise awareness about the role of culture and heritage in the economic sustainable development of cities, as well as gain the necessary knowledge to implement the plans and activities of the Historic Urban Landscape programme,” Al Nuaimi added.
He explained how this approach will benefit Al Ain, by promoting its historic sites and traditional practices while preserving natural resources.
The workshop attracted a large number of experts from varied fields of practice, including urban planning, architecture, landscaping, and cultural heritage preservation.
The workshop also encouraged participants from Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities, Al Ain Municipality, EAD, Ministry of Transportation, and experts from DCT Abu Dhabi to set urban plans, and review the Al Ain 2030 masterplan, to understand the impact adopting the Historic Urban Landscape programme could have on culture-based local sustainable development strategies.
Day one included a panel discussion titled ‘Historic Urban Landscape in Modern Urban Planning’, as well as a number of presentations using Al Ain as a case study. The second day utilised round table and panel discussions to debate the development of the Al Ain area. Representatives of other cities invited to participate in the workshop were able to link their expertise and experience in planning and management to topics relevant to Al Ain.
