The Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC) and the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage (ADACH) have announced a partnership to restore Abu Dhabi’s old airport building, which is located on ADMC’s campus in the Capital.
The small airport building, which is thought to have given the nearby ’Airport Road’ its name, is the last remnant of the original Abu Dhabi airport thought to have been built in the 1950s, before oil was discovered in the emirate, and features the only remaining authentic wind tower (barjeel) in the city. Once restored, the site will be maintained by ADMC and will be open to schools interested in visiting this historical and culturally-significant
building. It will also feature a recreational area for ADMC employees.
ADMC approached ADACH, which sent in an expert team to analyse the structure and research its history. Local records have not revealed the exact date the building was erected but research into this is ongoing. ADACH will use a series of traditional Emirati building techniques to restore the landmark to its original state.
Speaking at the launch of the conservation project, His Excellency Mohamed Khalaf Al-Mazrouei, Chairman of ADMC and Director General of ADACH said: “The old airport building represents a significant part of Abu Dhabi’s history and we believe it will generate interest among many people. ADMC has committed to working with ADACH to help preserve this unique building for future generations to enjoy and understand more about our rich heritage."
Edward Borgerding, CEO of Abu Dhabi Media Company said: “ADMC is committed to preserving our heritage and local culture and is fortunate to have a building of historical and architectural significance on its campus. The airport building is remarkably well preserved because it had been gradually surrounded by other newer buildings which had obscured it from view and sheltered it from the elements. Built with modern materials but using traditional design it represents a progression in architectural styles that gives us insight into Abu Dhabi’s social transition between the 1950s and 1970s.”
Abdul Hadi Al Sheikh, Executive Director of Properties Development at ADMC: “In addition to repairing the building over the next eight months, we are also conducting an architectural documentation and archaeological analysis of the site. Once the restoration process is complete we will initially open the site for educational and cultural field trips and we are also working on creating a recreational area for our employees.”
