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Chapter 2: Historical and Cultural Background<br />

2.1 Introduction<br />

“He who does not know his past cannot make <strong>the</strong> best <strong>of</strong> his present<br />

and future. For it is from <strong>the</strong> past that we learn.” 63<br />

(H.H. Sheikh Zayed B<strong>in</strong> Sultan Al-Nahyan)<br />

This chapter <strong>in</strong>cludes a brief history <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> UAE and its architectural<br />

development. Develop<strong>in</strong>g a clear understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> UAE‟s current<br />

situation is crucial <strong>in</strong> understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> socio-cultural factors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

society; hence, it is important <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> this research.<br />

There<strong>for</strong>e, it is beneficial to def<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong> UAE‟s past <strong>in</strong>fluences and<br />

events. It is also advantageous to <strong>in</strong>clude a brief historical outl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

United Arab Emirates union s<strong>in</strong>ce its <strong>in</strong>ception <strong>in</strong> 1971 and briefly to<br />

describe <strong>the</strong> situation be<strong>for</strong>e 1971 (<strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> purposes <strong>of</strong> this research<br />

<strong>the</strong>re is no need to <strong>in</strong>clude any detailed events prior to this, although a<br />

brief summary is <strong>in</strong>cluded). A PEST analysis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> UAE is also<br />

presented <strong>in</strong> this chapter. The chapter will also <strong>in</strong>clude a brief<br />

description <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> UAE architectural development. The chapter will<br />

outl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong> change <strong>in</strong> architecture development through <strong>the</strong> time. This<br />

will enable <strong>the</strong> reader to develop an understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dom<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g<br />

factors <strong>in</strong> UAE architecture post- and pre-unification.<br />

2.2 Background <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> United Arab Emirates<br />

United Arab Emirates is a federation <strong>of</strong> seven “emirates” or states<br />

<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Um al Qaiwa<strong>in</strong>, Ras Al-<br />

Khaimah and Fujairah. Abu Dhabi is <strong>the</strong> capital city <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> UAE, while<br />

Dubai ga<strong>in</strong>ed its fame from be<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>in</strong>ternational city. Dubai‟s central<br />

location between <strong>the</strong> eastern world and <strong>the</strong> west made <strong>the</strong> city a trade<br />

centre. The UAE is located <strong>in</strong> south-eastern corner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Arabian<br />

63 ODPM - In<strong>for</strong>mation Affairs. (2005), Immortal Words <strong>of</strong> Late Sheikh Zayed, <strong>the</strong> Cultural and Media<br />

Centre UAE.<br />

29

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