Al Maha wins prestigious Arab Cities Award for Architecture

The Arab Cities Organisation has presented Al Maha with the Eighth Arab Cities Award for Architecture.

The prestigious Arab Cities Organisation presents its awards in three categories once every three years in the categories of architecture, environment and landscape. As the awards are presented only once every three years, the competition to win them is enormous, once again highlighting the excellence of this achievement by Al Maha.

Set up in 1967, The Arab Cities Organisation is an international, non-governmental Kuwait City-based organisation established to raise the standards of local authorities, municipal services, development of quality living environments, and utilities in Arab cities. Membership is open to all cities in the Arab world.

Mr Rashad Mohamed Bukhash, Director of General Projects for The Arab Cities Organisation, and who heads the selection committee for entries from Dubai, said: "We chose Al Maha from 10 Dubai rivals for this Award. We carried out extensive studies on all the contenders, including conducting site visits, and concluded that Al Maha meets all the architectural and artistic criteria required under the scheme."

Al Maha, owned and managed by Emirates, was first nominated in August 2004 to represent Dubai and had to go through a rigorous qualifying processes to qualify for the highly sought-after award.

The resort, listed for the scheme's architectural category, was chosen because of its distinctive style and traditional Arabian architecture, reflecting Dubai desert heritage, while contemporising these designs for the need for modern comforts, technology, and of course the tranquillity associated with this unique location.

As HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Emirates Chairman and Chairman of Dubai Conservation Board, responsible for the creation of the Middle East's first national wildlife reserve, explains: "We are increasingly aware of the urgent need to take good care of our priceless natural resources and habitats, all the more so as Dubai is expanding so rapidly. Al Maha also makes a major contribution to inbound tourism and is both a commercial and aesthetic success.

"Its wildlife reserve and its management of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, protects our last unspoiled desert and unique Arabian heritage for future generations to enjoy."

Hans Haensel, Emirates' Senior Vice President Destination & Leisure Management, was thrilled that Al Maha had been recognised as being of architectural significance by such an important organisation: "Al Maha has always had at its core a commitment to the traditions and heritage of this region and we feel that the design and style of the resort perfectly reflects this".

Tony Williams, Emirates Vice President Resorts, explained the development of Al Maha: "We have focussed on creating a traditional Arabian home environment that is entirely in balance with the surroundings, while offering guests an intimate, romantic and private experience of luxury in the desert. All of this was developed keeping in mind that our main aim was to ensure that there were no negative effects on this conservation area. We are grateful to The Arab Cities Organisation for recognising these efforts.

"Since opening, Al Maha has created a resurgence of pride in traditional architecture in Dubai, with many others now following its example. This creates a "sense of place and history", critical for any city in order to maintain its identity. Where previously many traditional buildings were being removed to make way for modern buildings in this rapidly-expanding city, we now see many detailing their Arabian heritage in their construction."

The award was made to Al Maha on the basis that it embraces and celebrates the indigenous culture, the wildlife, desert habitat and the environment of the United Arab Emirates.

The history of Islamic Architecture is minimalist in nature, however at Al Maha what is important is how this aspect was used effectively to reflect a building style that evolved in the region where there was a need to create comfortable living spaces within the dry desert climate.

Al Maha represents a significant landmark in the evolution of the architectural language in a country that is little more than 30 years old and because it is the first concentrated effort by Dubai to address the issue of energy conservation in the built environment.

In addition to its unique architecture, The Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa has contributed to conservation of wildlife and traditional heritage not only for Dubai but also for the entire Gulf region. Based on global norms and the need to protect Dubai's last remaining desert habitats, the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve covers 225 Km2 (5% of Dubai's land area) and Al Maha is the only resort within the desert where visitors may experience the true tradition of the region and the wildlife of the Arabian Gulf.

It is the largest piece of land ever dedicated to a single project in Dubai and ensures conservation of desert habitats into the future and acts as a major attraction for both residents and visitors in the region.