UAE | Heritage and Culture
Landmark fort in Al Ain to be restored
A traditional mud brick fort dating from 1898 in Al Ain will undergo restoration to preserve its historic value, said Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).
- By Eman Mohammed, Abu Dhabi Deputy Editor
- Published: 00:14 June 22, 2008
- The historic Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain will be turned into a prime tourist attraction.
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
Abu Dhabi: A traditional mud brick fort dating from 1898 in Al Ain will undergo restoration to preserve its historic value, said Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).
The project aims to make Al Jahili Fort, which is considered one of the most important historic landmarks in the city of Al Ain, a popular cultural and tourist destination.
Shaikh Sultan said in a press statement yesterday "the project will include a new visitor information centre, a temporary exhibition gallery, a permanent exhibition on the traveller Sir Wilfred Thesiger (also known as Mubarak Bin London), and a walk- through audio-visual installation describing the history of Al Ain."
The project is part of ADACH's many initiatives to emphasise the role of culture in Abu Dhabi.
Al Jahili Fort, the largest in Al Ain, is currently being restored using a combination of traditional materials and modern construction techniques, said Mohammad Khalaf Al Mazroui, Director General of ADACH.
The new architectural design follows the original floor plan.
Mud blocks, mud plaster and palm logs will be used for the restoration, and whenever possible existing historic building materials will be re-used, said Dr. Sami Al Masri, director of the strategic planning office at ADACH.
Cold water pipes in the mud plaster will cool the building in summer, and the cold air flow will be controlled to minimise energy consumption, Al Masri added.
Al Jahili Fort was built by Shaikh Zayed Bin Khalifa (Zayed I), Ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1855 to 1909, as a summer residence.
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