ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (Feb. 5, 2026) — The UAE Ministry of Culture has announced the recipients of the first cycle of its Modern Heritage Research Grants Programme, an initiative aimed at documenting, studying and reinterpreting the country’s modern architectural heritage from the 1960s to the 1980s.
The five-year programme, backed by AED 800,000 in funding, is being implemented in collaboration with Zayed University and MAJRA – National CSR Fund. It supports research-based, academic and creative projects focused on modern architecture as a key element of Emirati national identity.
Mubarak Al Nakhi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, said the initiative is designed to raise awareness of the UAE’s modern architectural legacy while supporting researchers and creatives working to preserve the memory of the country’s evolving urban landscapes. He described the announcement of grant recipients as a major outcome of the National Policy for Preserving Modern Architectural Heritage, launched in 2024.
Zayed University Provost Michael Allen said the partnership reflects the university’s commitment to interdisciplinary research aligned with national priorities, adding that the programme will help position modern Emirati architecture as a field of academic study and cultural documentation.
MAJRA’s Director of Strategic Affairs and Sponsorship, Mohammad Al Qassim, said the fund’s support channels corporate social responsibility resources toward cultural research with long-term impact, helping strengthen national identity and knowledge production.
The selected projects span a wide range of themes, including the evolution of construction materials, cross-regional architectural exchanges, urban memory, women’s roles in modern city spaces and the documentation of residential, civic and industrial heritage across Abu Dhabi and Dubai.