Dabbagh Architects, together with WAHO, BuroHappold, SeARCCH, MSW, and Nulty, undertook the extension, restoration, and conservation of the Al Ain Museum complex, located within the UNESCO-recognised Al Ain Oasis buffer zone. The
project brings together three significant components:

– The National Museum, the UAE’s oldest museum dating from the late 1960s, restored and modernized.
– The historic Sultan Fort, built in 1910 by Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, conserved with full respect to its earthen architecture.
– A new 7,000 sqm Museum Extension, designed as a contemporary addition that supports updated exhibition and visitor functions.

The Museum hosts archaeological and ethnographic exhibits from the rich history of Al Ain and the wider region, from the Stone Age up until the formation of the United Arab Emirates. The Sultan Fort, an adobe-made landmark of the city, once a centrally located military Fort within the old city of Al Ain, has served a multitude of roles throughout its history – from an administrative center to the housing of the Ruler.

Team:

Architects: Dabbagh Architects

Photographers: Gary O'Leary, Intelier