A museum aimed at reviving the historical value of the UAE and its heritage has started the first phase of construction.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced yesterday that work on the Union Museum project in Dubai started last week and its first phase will be complete by the middle of this year.
“It will be constructed beside the Union House, the same location that saw the signing of the constituent document of the UAE, and the home of the second-biggest UAE flag measuring 20 metres by 40 metres, fluttering 120 metres above the ground,” said Mattar Al Tayer, the RTA’s executive director.
“The RTA will then award the contract of the main building of the museum, which will be a beacon and a monument narrating the full story of the federation, the formation of the UAE and futuristic drive of this blessed country.”
Phase one will focus on preparing the site, shifting and protecting artefacts and exhibits in the onsite buildings, constructing a six-metre high boundary wall, demolishing the buildings onsite, inspecting and treating the soil and shifting the utility lines.
“The Union Museum building consists of five divisions,” said Mr Al Tayer. “The first one highlights the story of the region and the life patterns of population in various desert, coastal and hilly terrains in the pre-federation era. The second division spotlights the precise details of forming the UAE federation through screening documents, speeches and meetings culminated in the signing of the constituent document of establishing the federation, and this division houses a giant hall designated for hologram shows and 3D images.”
The third division will display the “renaissance” era along with the human, urban and economic developments and achievements made by the UAE.
The fourth section, or the Pearl Hall, will be dedicated to official meetings and functions while the fifth will consist of a festivities yard including an outdoor theatre with a capacity of 500 where sound, light and water-themed performances can be staged.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea to have any cultural department or museum dealing with the heritage of the UAE,” said Hassan Al Naboodah, an Emirati historian.
“It is highly important because we live in an Arabic country and we must preserve our heritage. From an academic point of view, it’s also important for students and schools – instead of sitting in a classroom listening to teachers, they can go to the museum and do more research and investigation.”
cmalek@thenational.ae
