The Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Alserkal Consulting, has included “Union House” in the National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage, marking the occasion during a visit by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, and Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture, to the building. The move reflects the UAE’s commitment to strengthening national identity and deepening younger generations’ connection with the country’s history by preserving landmarks of historical, cultural and architectural significance.
During the visit, the official plaque recognising “Union House” as part of the National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage was unveiled. The register was launched by the Ministry of Culture to document and protect buildings and sites of architectural and historical importance across the UAE, while highlighting their role in shaping national memory and reinforcing the country’s cultural identity.
Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed and Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi toured the corridors of “Union House” and reviewed the main milestones of the UAE’s founding, as well as the pivotal role the site played in the nation’s history. It was here that meetings were held which paved the way for the announcement of the Union on 2 December 1971, ensuring the building remains a national symbol of unity, cohesion and the shared vision of the founding fathers.
Union House: A celebration of modern architectural heritage
The visit also included a dialogue session with Zaki Nusseibeh, cultural adviser to the President of the UAE, entitled “Union House: A celebration of modern architectural heritage”, attended by a number of national figures who lived through the founding era and witnessed its historical events. Participants shared their memories and experiences linked to “Union House”, affirming its status as a living witness to one of the most important moments in the country’s history.
A national and cultural landmark
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said that “Union House” stands as a prominent national and cultural landmark and a witness to the memory and progress of the nation. It is the place where the founding fathers came together, and where the UAE was born, with people placed at the centre of development and ambition adopted as the path to achievement.
She said: “Union House holds a uniquely special place in our memory. It is a bridge connecting the past and the present, and an important national symbol tied to a historic moment shaped by the founding fathers, who laid the foundations of the Union and embodied our society’s aspirations for unity and excellence. Beneath this roof, a dream became reality, and from here began the journey of building a nation that, thanks to the wise leadership of its rulers, has presented the world with a distinguished model of development, leadership and foresight. The values of the Union, on which our journey was founded, remain a source of inspiration that guides our present and shapes the features of our future.”
She also expressed pride in the inclusion of “Union House” as the first site in the National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage, in recognition of its historical importance and architectural value, saying this contributes to reinforcing awareness of national landmarks and safeguarding the UAE’s cultural legacy.
She added: “This step reflects the UAE’s commitment to preserving landmarks that safeguard our collective memory through the human stories and authentic values they hold, documenting the story of the UAE and immortalising the efforts of the founding fathers who built the nation and helped shape its identity. It also highlights the richness of our heritage and strengthens its presence among future generations.”
Exceptional value
For his part, Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi said that the inclusion of “Union House” in the National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage reflects the standing of this exceptional national landmark, which is linked to one of the most significant historic moments in the UAE’s journey. He noted that preserving buildings and sites of historical and architectural value is a fundamental pillar in efforts to protect national identity and strengthen the connection of future generations with their country’s history.
He said: “Union House represents an enduring symbol embodying the story of unity that established the UAE and cemented its civilisational and developmental journey. Through its inclusion in the National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting sites of exceptional national and cultural value, and ensuring their sustainability as sources of knowledge and inspiration, and as living witnesses to the achievements the state has made since the Union.”
He added that the National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage helps document and honour the buildings and sites that formed part of the urban, cultural and social transformations witnessed by the UAE over recent decades, supporting research and documentation efforts and strengthening the position of modern architectural heritage as one of the pillars of national cultural identity.
Documenting heritage elements
The inclusion of “Union House” in the National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage comes in line with the Ministry of Culture’s efforts to document the country’s cultural and architectural heritage and to raise awareness of the importance of modern buildings linked to pivotal moments in the UAE’s history.
Built in 1965, “Union House” is one of the country’s most prominent historical landmarks. It was used by the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum to host official meetings that helped lay the foundations of the Union, and on 2 December 1971 it hosted the signing of the UAE Constitution and the announcement of the Union, immortalising one of the most important moments in the region’s history. It also hosted a number of Gulf meetings and official visits by senior leaders during the 1960s and 1970s.
Originally known as “Guest Palace”, the building is distinguished by its unique architectural design, which combines simplicity and authenticity and reflects the aesthetic features of local architecture in the early second half of the last century. It consists of two interlocking parts, one surrounding the other, and is supported by cylindrical concrete columns. Its facades were executed entirely in glass and aluminium, except for the roof and floor, which were built using modern construction materials. Today, it forms part of the Union Museum and continues its role in documenting the nation’s founding journey, preserving national memory and introducing new generations to the story and values of the Union.
The National Register of Modern Architectural Heritage, launched recently alongside the first meeting of the National Identity Committee under the National Identity Strategy and the National Policy for Modern Architectural Heritage, includes an initial phase of ten selected buildings representing key milestones in the development of modern architecture in the UAE. These are: Union House in Dubai; Burj Rashid, which marked a turning point in the rise of Dubai’s modern commercial and economic landscape since its افتتاح in 1979; the Deira Clock Tower in Dubai, one of the city’s oldest urban symbols; the National Consultative Council at Qasr Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi, linked to the beginnings of institutional and legislative work since 1968; the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi, a leading platform for cultural and artistic activity since its establishment in 1982; the Islamic Institute at UAE University in Al Ain, reflecting the development of modern educational and religious architecture since 1976; Khalid bin Mohammed School in Sharjah, a prominent model of educational architecture associated with the planning of residential neighbourhoods; Al Qasimia School in Sharjah, representing an advanced stage in the design of modern government schools since the 1980s; the Special Education Support Centre in Sharjah, as an example of specialised educational services architecture in the post-Union period; and Saqr Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, which embodies the development of modern healthcare infrastructure and its central role in the country’s social memory since 1981.