Abu Dhabi adds 40 new sites to its cultural heritage list

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terminal 1 abu dhabi airport shutterstock 1710343603

Interior of Terminal 1 at former Abu Dhabi Airport

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has added 40 buildings and landmarks to its Modern Heritage Register, expanding the list to more than 100 sites that reflect the emirate’s architectural evolution and cultural identity. The sites span not only Abu Dhabi city but also the wider emirate, including Al Ain and the Al Dhafra region.

Newly added to the list are several Abu Dhabi landmarks, including Corniche Hospital, Madinat Zayed Bus Station, Capital Park and its Garden Tower, multiple Emirates Post branches, the Geneva Flower Clock and the former Abu Dhabi International Airport – Terminal 1. Designed by French architect Paul Andreu, best known for Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, the 1982 terminal is celebrated for its iconic circular rotunda and mosaic-tiled roof.

Other additions include the Al Ain Museum, founded in 1969 as one of the UAE’s earliest cultural institutions, and the former National Consultative Council building (1968), which played a key role in shaping early governance and civic dialogue during the federation’s formative years.

Additional sites joining the register range from the HE Mohammed Habroush Al Suwaidi Building and Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Tower on the Corniche to the Al Dhafra Sports and Culture Club, the International School of Choueifat – Al Ain, and several water tanks and silos across Sir Bani Yas and Delma Island.

Al Ain Museum

DCT Abu Dhabi said the expanded register reflects three years of research and documentation, underscoring its commitment to safeguarding the emirate’s modern cultural landscape in line with the 2016 Cultural Heritage Law.

Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Under-Secretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Abu Dhabi’s modern heritage is a cornerstone of our cultural identity, offering a powerful reflection of the emirate’s ongoing growth and development. By formally registering these pivotal sites, we reaffirm our commitment to recognising, protecting, and celebrating the architectural and urban legacy that has shaped our communities and continues to enrich our collective sense of place.”

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DCT Abu Dhabi is also encouraging residents to play a more active role in identifying and nominating sites, highlighting that heritage preservation is a shared community responsibility.

Existing entries in the Modern Heritage Register include the Cultural Foundation, Al Manhal Palace, and Sheikh Zayed Sports City — landmarks that embody the emirate’s rapid transformation while preserving the legacy of its formative decades.

List of sites added to the Abu Dhabi Modern Heritage Register in 2026:

Abu Dhabi City
Former Abu Dhabi International Airport (Terminal 1)
Madinat Zayed Bus Station
Corniche Hospital
Capital Park Urban Ensemble (Capital Park and Garden Tower)
HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Tower (Corniche Tower)
Mohammed Habroush Al Suwaidi Building
Zadco Building
Sheikh Saif bin Mohamed Al Nahyan Building (La Brioche Building)
Abu Dhabi Cedar Fountain
Abu Dhabi Geneva Flower Clock
Emirates Post – Khalidiya Post Office
Emirates Post – Hamdan Post Office
Emergencies Crises and Disasters Management Centre Abu Dhabi
Islamiya English School – Abu Dhabi
Sabis International School – Al Bateen

Al Ain
Al Ain Museum
Al Murabaa Police Museum
Al Ain City Municipality Campus (Municipality and Town Planning Sector buildings)
Former Al Ain City Centre Town Clinics
Al-Kuwaitat Complex – UAEU Students’ Housing
The International School of Choueifat – Al Ain
Al Jouri Kindergarten
Hili Archaeological Park Garden

Al Dhafra region
Al Dhafra Sports & Culture Club
Raha Beach Rest House
Al Dhannah City Water Towers
Sir Bani Yas Eastern Water Tank
Sir Bani Yas Southern Water Tank
Former Delma Island Post Office
Delma Island Water Silos
Al Natlah Resthouse (Al Neyadat)

Bani Yas and Al Shahama
Green Souk – Bani Yas
Green Souk – Al Shahama

Wider emirate
Khalad Bin Swied Al Ansari Mosque
Haseen Rashid Al Hajri Building
Former National Consultative Council

For more information, visit dct.gov.ae