BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)

The cultural identity of the UAE is deeply rooted in its landscape, history and architecture, elements that continue to shape the country’s urban evolution even as cities expand and modernise, according to Dr Apostolos Kyriazis, Associate Professor of Architecture at Abu Dhabi University.

Through architectural research and photographic documentation, Kyriazis has explored how the built environment across the UAE reflects the country’s historical layers, environmental realities and evolving cultural identity.

Speaking to Aletihad, Kyriazis said that human presence in the UAE dates back more than 10,000 years, with generations adapting to harsh environmental conditions and limited local resources.

“These realities shaped not only the construction of heritage sites but also their relationship with the surrounding landscape,” he said, stressing that the culture of each region and civilisation is in direct connection with the conditions of its land, the climate, the weather, the topography, the materials and the resources.

Examples of this connection can be seen across the country, Kyriazis said, for example, the honeycomb tombs at Jebel Hafeet, which share the same material and outline as the mountain itself, while the dome of the structures symbolically represents the sky. 

Similarly, he added that the forts of Liwa take on a different meaning when experienced in the desert environment, where strong winds and sandstorms shaped their design and purpose.

Having lived in the UAE for 11 years, Kyriazis has documented many of the country’s heritage sites through photography, highlighting their cultural and architectural significance.

He pointed out that Qasr Al Muwaiji in Al Ain, the birthplace of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, represents a powerful example of traditional architecture shaped by environmental necessity.

“Its minimal character underlines the condition of the essential within the context of the harsh environment,” Kyriazis said, noting that its careful restoration helped draw attention to what he describes as survival minimalism in traditional architecture.

One of his photographs of Qasr Al Muwaiji won first prize at the International Photography Awards, “Abu Dhabi Through Your Eyes”, in 2018. 

Kyriazis explained that the UAE’s cultural identity can be understood through two main architectural eras, the pre-oil vernacular period and the modernist era between the 1960s and 1990s, when the country began its rapid development following the discovery of oil.

Some historic neighbourhoods from the pre-oil period remain preserved, including Al Fahidi, Al Bastakiya and Al Shindagha in Dubai, as well as old districts in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Khor Fakkan.

However, many cities developed rapidly during the mid-20th century, often built on what Kyriazis describes as “a clean sheet”, following modernist planning approaches of the time.

Today, both the remaining vernacular architecture and the early modernist buildings are increasingly recognised as critical elements of the UAE’s cultural heritage. 

An important element in urban evolution, Kyriazis said, is the role of transitional spaces, where historic areas meet modern developments.

Early master plans for Abu Dhabi in the early 1960s (Harris and Halcrow, both in 1961-1962) proposed such spaces to create a gradual transition between traditional settlements and new urban grids, according to Kyriazis.

“These areas are important because they allow historic buildings to coexist with modern structures while preserving scale, contrast and continuity,” he noted.

Kyriazis noted that during the 1960s and 1970s, Abu Dhabi attracted major architectural figures from around the world, creating what he describes as an important, though often overlooked, field of experimentation.

“Abu Dhabi in the 1970s could be considered the equivalent of Saadiyat today in terms of architectural pioneering,” he said, noting that this is a role the city continues to highlight.

As cities continue to expand rapidly, Kyriazis emphasises the importance of preserving historic architecture to maintain a connection with the past. This idea reflects the vision of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who famously said: “He who does not know his past cannot make the best of his present and future, for it is from the past that we learn.”

Preserving heritage architecture not only protects cultural identity but also strengthens tourism, knowledge and the sense of belonging among residents, Kyriazis added.

“Over time, such buildings become landmarks that help people orient themselves within the city and maintain a connection with its history.”