Union House inscribed on Alecso registry of Arab architectural heritage sites

Declaration of the Union was signed at the site in 1971

The Union House is among 19 sites to be inscribed on the register. Photo: Wam

The Union House has been inscribed on the registry of Arab architectural heritage sites, an initiative by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (Alecso).

Built in 1965 and located on Jumeirah Street in Dubai, the structure is a landmark of UAE history. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed, former Ruler of Dubai, would conduct important meetings at the house. Most notably, it was where the Declaration of the Union was signed in July 1971, marking the foundation of the country.

The historic site has since been restored, remaining faithful to its original design, and is now part of Etihad Museum. It houses artefacts, photographs and documents related to the formation of the UAE.

The Union House has been among several sites inscribed on the register since Alecso launched the initiative this month.

The list also includes the Zitouna Mosque in Tunisia, the old city of Miliana in Algeria, the Medina of Fez in Morocco, Tounen village in Libya’s Ghadames, Mauritania’s Azougui Archaeological Site, Al Khabra Town and Qishla Fortress in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Towers, Oman’s Al Hamouda Mosque, the Barzan Tower and Murwab Archaeological Site in Qatar, the Umayyad Mosque in Syria and Egypt’s Al Jazira Arts Centre. The list also includes sites in Yemen’s Aden, on the Tigris River in Iraq and in Palestine, including Old City of Jerusalem, Old City of Hebron and the Great Omari Mosque in Gaza.

The register comes as part of Observatory of Architectural and Urban Heritage in Arab Countries, a larger initiative by Alecso that aims to support the documenting, monitoring of reconstruction of heritage sites.

Several cultural figures in the UAE have commented on the significance of the The Union House’s inscription. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed, chairwoman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and member of Dubai Council and the Executive Council of Dubai, said on X that it “constitutes a new chapter in Dubai’s legacy as a city that transcends time and generations, a city of the past, present and future".

“The building, which witnessed the announcement of the union of the UAE in 1971, now stands among 19 Arab heritage sites as a living testament to the nation’s birth and a cornerstone of our identity, history and belonging," Sheikha Latifa said.

“Our gratitude goes to the team at the Ministry of Culture and the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, for their dedicated efforts in safeguarding and preserving the UAE's heritage.”

Ahmed Al Marzooqi, a writer and lecturer at Sorbonne University in Paris, replied to the post, saying: “The Union House is not merely a building, but a living memory of a nation’s birth and a beacon of unity and pride. Its inscription in the Alecso registry elevates it as a bridge connecting past, present and future reminding us that strong identity is the foundation upon which nations endure and thrive.”