Abu Dhabi-United Arab Emirates

The UAE National Pavilion at the Venice Biennale announced the appointment of architect and researcher Dalia Hamati as curator for the country’s participation in the twentieth session of the International Architecture Exhibition - Venice Biennale 2027; The activities will extend from May 8 to November 21, with Hamati presenting research work that addresses the complex relationship between architecture, climate challenges, and the sustainability of vital resources, with a focus on dealing with water scarcity. This exhibition, which is held in the permanent pavilion of the state in the historic Arsenal area, aims to promote arts and architectural design tourism, by presenting innovative research results accompanied by a special documentary release that attracts those interested in cultural tourism and heritage exploration.

​Commitment to innovation and visions that reflect the depth of local experience
​The Minister of Culture, Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, affirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting designers and researchers, and said: “Dalia Hamati’s work is distinguished by its importance, intellectual depth, and close connection to the Emirates. The exhibition also embodies the spirit of innovation and creativity in the country.” For her part, Hamati, an assistant professor at the American University of Sharjah who is registered in New York State, expressed her pride in the selection, stressing the project’s connection to the local environment. She said: “Influential contributions to global dialogues are those that are based on an accurate understanding of the place, and we hope that the exhibition will encourage the adoption of new ways of thinking about the role of architecture in building a more sustainable future.”

​International tributaries that enrich the cultural and architectural tourism of the Emirates
​In this international forum, the UAE records its seventh participation in architecture exhibitions and the sixteenth in total at the Venice Biennale, under the slogan “Practicing Architecture - for the Possibility of Coexistence in the Face of a Real Reality,” under the supervision of Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu; Commissioned by the Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, the participation is of great tourism importance, as it highlights the country’s unique visual and urban identity, and attracts the attention of international exhibition-goers to follow the pioneering Emirati experience in adapting buildings to desert nature, which enhances the Emirati cultural presence as a global destination that inspires lovers of travel and sustainable architecture tourism.