Dubai Municipality plans to restore all historic buildings

To ensure that the historic landmarks of Dubai are not forgotten in the drive towards modernisation, Dubai Municipality has established a long-term plan to reconstruct all the historic buildings in the emirate, said a senior official.

Engineer Rashad Mohammed Bukhash, Assistant Director of the General Projects Department and Head of the Historic Buildings Section, said the section has completed some reconstruction projects to give the emirate's residents and visitors a glimpse of its glorious past.

"Modern Dubai is a product of 20 years of intensive development. Dubai was a small traditional community situated on the banks of the creek," he said.

"As part of our commitment and dedication to the protection of Dubai's rich heritage, we are undertaking studies to identify the strategy, plan and techniques required to preserve or restore historic buildings and structures."

The municipality has restored buildings and structures, such as Sheikh Saeed House, Al Fahidi Fort, Al Bastakia Area, Heritage House, Al Wakeel House, Lootah Mosque and Al Ahmadiya School.
"We have reconstructed 57 historic buildings dating back to 1890," he said.

The municipality purchases some of the buildings from their owners in order to restore them. Other buildings are reconstructed by the municipality, but remain the property of their owners.

"We reconstruct these historic buildings and rent them to individuals, departments, companies or establishments. When we want to offer a building for rent, we specify our conditions, such as the kind of activities which will be conducted in this building and what kind of goods the shop will sell.

"We lay emphasis on protecting tradition and history in the area and even the doors of the buildings and the boards must be historical," he said.

"We do not allow any changes in the building. And after renting them, we always monitor the shop to be sure that no changes have been made."

The municipality recently reconstructed Al Hamele House at Al Rass in Deira. It will be used as a motel, in cooperation with the Tourism Department.

"This house is considered one of the most important historic buildings in the area due to its location near Al Ahmadiya School," said Bukhash.

This building has two floors. The first floor comprises a coffee shop, traditional restaurant and majlis. The upper floor comprises five bedrooms and another majlis. The building stands on 441.6 square metres.

The other building, which is for rent, is Al Mediya house. It is intended for commercial use such as shops selling traditional goods.

Reconstruction is sometimes carried out at the expense of the municipality and sometimes at the expense of the owners.

"The designs are characteristic of the original buildings and this denotes the innovative and beautiful designs of the structures at the time," explained Bukhash.

He said restoration was carried out in accordance with a plan prepared by the Historic Buildings Section.

"We conducted preliminary research on the subject. Then came the phase of a keen surveillance of the buildings' major elements. We also analysed various architectural elements and pinpointed the necessary specifications of the building materials," he said.

"In reconstructing the historic buildings, we used the same materials that were used in the original structure in order to preserve its heritage value. We also followed the internationally approved conservation policies not only for this project, but for all other renovation projects of the Historic Buildings Section."

Bukhash explained that the Al Bastakia area in Bur Dubai dates back to the early 1900s, and occupies the eastern section of the old town along the Creek, extending 300 metres. This area represents an important place in the history of architecture and urban development.

The masons who constructed the building have left an indelible mark on the town's heritage. The area has always fascinated visitors and artists, who are impressed by its elegant wind-towers, gypsum decorations and woodwork, and the lanes that meander through the district.

"Al Ahmadiya School was established by the late Sheikh Ahmed bin Dalmouk after whom the school was named in 1912. It was the earliest regular school in Dubai where instruction was provided by some of the leading teachers of the day and many distinguished scholars and dignitaries received their education here," said Bukhash.

The school is located in the centre of the residential Al Rass area, which was a convenient location for the children of the elite and traders who resided there.

"With the building of new schools in the 1950s, the school was neglected. For some years the building was used by the Department of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf of the Government of Dubai. But this also moved out to a more spacious and modern building.

"The school has been restored to its original structure and was converted into a museum of education which was inaugurated on March 7, 2000," he said.