Projects, Restoration, and Heritage Properties
The Projects, Restoration, and Properties Department at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage is responsible for safeguarding architectural heritage and cultural properties through the implementation of restoration projects, the management and operation of heritage sites, their documentation, and their revitalization in ways that preserve authenticity and enhance their cultural and community presence.
Our Heritage Journey
The Department builds on an established legacy of heritage work in the Emirate of Sharjah dating back to 1986, when the Department of Antiquities and Heritage was established under the Department of Culture and Information. Since the late 1980s, systematic efforts in restoration and urban conservation began to take shape, and these efforts have continued to develop within the institutional framework of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage since its establishment in 2014.
Legislative Framework
The Department’s work aligns with the Cultural Heritage Law of the Emirate of Sharjah (2020), which regulates the protection of cultural heritage—both immovable and movable—and emphasizes the management, documentation, and restoration of cultural sites, the safeguarding of associated collections, and the regulation of urban interventions within their surroundings to ensure their sustainability for future generations.
Department Overview
The Department consists of several specialized divisions that operate in an integrated manner:
Heritage Properties Section
Responsible for the protection, management, and operation of heritage properties. It includes the Heritage Properties Protection Unit, which oversees site monitoring and safeguarding against encroachments, and the Heritage Properties Operations Unit, which manages and activates heritage sites in line with their cultural value.
Personal Museums Section
Responsible for personal museums and museum collections. It includes the Museum Collections Unit, which handles inventory, documentation, and care of collections, and the Museum Development Unit, which contributes to enhancing exhibition practices and improving the presentation of content related to these collections and museums.
Restoration & Architectural Heritage Section
Responsible for documentation, research, design, and conservation solutions. It includes the Architectural Heritage Documentation and Studies Unit, the Architectural Design Unit, and the Production Design Unit. The Section focuses on documenting buildings and sites, preparing technical studies, and developing restoration and rehabilitation projects in accordance with scientific methodologies that preserve authenticity.
Technical Section
Includes the Workforce, Transport, and Workshops Unit, the Projects Follow-up Unit, and the Maintenance Office. Through this section, restoration, maintenance, and project works are implemented on site. It also manages specialized workshops, including the traditional carpentry workshop and the local gypsum workshop, which produces one of the essential materials used in traditional restoration.
Integrated Heritage Management
These functions collectively contribute to the protection, documentation, rehabilitation, and revitalization of architectural heritage, cultural properties, and museum collections, reflecting the continued commitment of the Emirate of Sharjah to safeguarding its cultural heritage for future generations.
Learn more about our restoration projects, heritage properties, conservation initiatives, and architectural heritage programs.
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