As part of my dissertation, from the lens of cultural strategy, I examined whether the UAE’s spectacular and innovative urban and architectural projects — such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Museum of the Future, and the Dubai Opera — can be understood as forms of heritage in their own right.
The UAE is undergoing cultural transformations that resonate not only locally but also globally. By introducing unexpected — and at times even disruptive — ways of rethinking culture, the country is opening new perspectives on society and the future.
Future we inherit: cultural heritage of the UAE
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This raises a central question: can we describe as heritage the processes taking place now - those that look forward - rather than only the tangible remains of the past?
Drawing on cultural theorists such as John Ruskin, Viollet-le-Duc, Rodney Harrison, and, most notably, Laurajane Smith and her concept of heritage as a process, I explored three core pillars of culture: identity, time, and community. Through interviews and big data analysis conducted in R, I identified key narratives that help clarify how heritage can be understood within Dubai’s evolving urban landscape.
Heritage Without the Past
Unlike the traditional link between heritage and history, Dubai creates a new perspective: heritage is made in the present and directed toward the future. The city doesn’t preserve the past—it architects the future as its own form of cultural legacy.
Heritage as Expectation
In the UAE, heritage manifests not as continuous process but as projection into an imagined future. This directly shapes how time is perceived and valued within society—the future becomes more real than the past.
Belonging Through Ambition
Belonging in Dubai forms not through shared history but through shared aspiration. Ambition and drive become the connective tissue that shapes collective identity and sense of place.
The Paradox of Belonging
© 2025 Rufina Fakhritdi
In-depth interviews revealed a central tension: the stronger the desire for belonging, the sharper the feeling of alienation. Word frequency analysis showed ambition and belonging coexist with doubts about identity—"for whom?" and "who am I?"—creating a defining paradox in how people experience a place.
