United Real Estate lead contributor of Gulf Studies Symposium at American University of Kuwait

Organized by the Center of Gulf Studies at the University; the symposium is scheduled to take place from 22 March to 24 March 2013 on campus.

The Symposium is the first of its kind yearly meeting, exclusively organized by a Gulf- based academic institution, attracting worldwide Gulf scholars and researchers to engage in an inter-disciplinary discussion in relation to urbanism and urbanization in the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula. The Center of Gulf Studies has planned this symposium with the intention of holding it on an annual basis.

Commenting on this contribution, URC's Executive Vice President, Renimah Ali Al-Mattar said, "We are honoured to partner with AUK and be the lead donor for this symposium especially since it focuses on a very relevant topic to our real estate industry, urbanization. As real estate developers we have a responsibility to our built environment and how the creation of space should be approached and its thought process conceived. Master plan developments and the general industry of creating space whether for work, living, entertainment, or schooling, has a direct and long term effect on our social interaction, social behaviour, and ultimately, our social well-being. Developers and country leaders must understand and embrace this concept in order to develop, not just space but also generations, intelligently and consciously."

The AUK Center of Gulf Studies will be hosting Gulf specialists from the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Kuwait to participate in the three day symposium. Specialists include leading historians, ethnographers, political scientists, architects, and theorists on the Gulf who will be presenting latest research findings on the space, society and culture of Gulf cities.

As for the series of panel discussions, themes outlined for this symposium include 'Architecture, urban design, planning, and sustainability', 'Dynamics of public/private spaces and spheres', 'Gulf cities as transnational hubs',' Spaces, boundaries, and practices of political contestation, violence, or dissent', ' Spaces, boundaries, and practices of socio-political exclusion', ' Museums and sites of national heritage' and 'City images and branding urban identities'.

In the past year URC has supported youth and the education sector in Kuwait, stemmed from the company's CSR strategy. The latest was its sponsorship of the Kuwait University Business Administration College's graduation ceremony, which took place last month. Prior to that, URC sponsored two series of public and private lectures. The first series of lecture focused on cultural and social analysis and was held at Kuwait University, the American University of Kuwait and the Australian College of Kuwait. A private lecture was also held for URC employees at their headquarters.

The second set of lectures were given at Kuwait University by the California Institute of Earth Architecture (Cal-Earth) and SSH International who presented URC's development approach to build the Eco Dome and Tri-Vault Structures. A private lecture for URC employees was also held at Marina Hotel, including an interactive question and answer session. The Cal-Earth methodology was adopted in URC's Junoot development in Shuwaimiyah, Oman, which won the 'Future Projects—Leisure led development' award at the 2012 World Architecture Festival and a Special Recognition Award at the MIPIM 2013 Architectural Review Future Projects Awards in Cannes.