ABU DHABI // Rashad Bukhash’s notable work in preserving the UAE’s history won him votes before he even started campaigning for the 2011 election.
Once in the FNC, Mr Bukhash continued to push for preserving the country’s artefacts by calling for laws. His other commitments to the community include Emiratisation.
He has also pushed for Emirati architectural designs to be used in mosques, and for them to be made to sustainable standards.
Responding to an FNC colleague who did not think there was an Emirati architectural style, Mr Bukhash said: “There is a simple, unified style in Emirati mosques, in the embossment and embellishments.
“Islamic architecture comes from various countries, from China to Morocco, all have different designs and present a national identity.”
He has questioned Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, about the delay to the introduction of a law to protect archaeological sites.
“We have 2,800 archaeological sites that need protecting,” Mr Bukhash said, adding that without the law, sites and artefacts were constantly under the threat of theft or destruction.
He has also questioned Mariam Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, over a delay in a law to grant international organisations the right to open branches in the UAE.
Mr Bukhash told the minister he was a member of a museum council in Paris that was unable to open a branch in the UAE without this law.
On the council, Mr Bukhash is deputy head of the Islamic, Awqaf and public facilities committee, and a member of the interior and defence committee.
osalem@thenational.ae
