Page 85 - MAJRA PR REPORT - MAY 2025

Mubarak Al Nakhi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, said, “The Modern Heritage Research
Grants programme represents a key component of our national strategy to preserve and safeguard
modern architectural heritage, which serves as a bridge connecting the past with the future. Our
partnership with Zayed University underscores our commitment to promoting robust research into
the architectural history of the pivotal era from the 1960s through the 1990s. By doing so, we seek
to uncover the cultural and artistic layers that have shaped our national identity.”

He further added, “These grants are designed to encourage rigorous research and creativity to
interpret our heritage with critical awareness and connect it to regional and global architectural
movements. By empowering talented individuals, we aim to fill knowledge gaps and transform
archival material into a living resource that informs and inspires future generations.”

The programme encompasses two primary research categories – creative and academic. Creative
research includes the production of films, illustrations, materials, and photographic works
highlighting architectural characteristics of this period.

Meanwhile, academic research supports the development of written works that explore various
aspects of the country's modern architectural heritage. Grants are available under multiple
categories, including the Modern Heritage Research Grants and Modern Heritage Research
Fellowship.

Researchers, practitioners, academics, and individuals interested in the UAE’s modern
architectural heritage can apply for this programme, open to both UAE residents or non-residents.
Each project must be completed within a six-month timeframe, as outlined in the application
guidelines. Grants of up to AED50,000 will be awarded per proposal.

The programme also welcomes project proposals related to or based on master’s theses, provided
that all submissions, including creative ones, are based on original, well-founded, and approved
preliminary research.
Applications for the first cycle will start on 1st 2025, with submissions closing on 31st July. Grants
recipients will be announced in October 2025.

https://www.wam.ae/en/article/bjjdurx-ministry-culture-launches-modern-heritage-research