Held at the Authority’s headquarters in Halwan from 22 to 24 September, the “Restoration of Historic Buildings” workshop brought together specialists from SAA, the Department of Public Works, the Authority for Initiatives Implementation (Mubadara) and partner entities.

The workshop focused on international standards, methodologies and decision-making processes for conserving historic buildings and sites, and on promoting a shared professional framework among the entities responsible for heritage conservation.

Preserving Sharjah’s historic buildings

Using the historic Sharjah Air Station building, Al Mahatta, as a case study, participants examined principles for selecting and applying restoration methodologies, taking into account the building’s significance within Sharjah’s historical heritage.

The workshop was moderated by Dr Alaa Al-Habashi, a conservation, restoration and World Heritage expert, together with specialists from SAA’s World Heritage Office.

The programme emphasised the importance of historical research and detailed structural analysis before any physical interventions, as well as approaches to adapting historic buildings for contemporary use without compromising their heritage values or the surrounding urban character.

Participants also examined international conservation charters, authenticity, heritage values and their communication, as well as their application in state of conservation reports and cultural heritage site management plans.

From restoration to long-term management

His Excellency Eisa Yousif, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, said that conserving historic buildings goes beyond addressing their structural condition and requires understanding each site's heritage values before applying internationally recognised standards.

He emphasised the need to develop national expertise and a shared professional approach among institutions responsible for heritage conservation, strengthen coordination, and ensure that restoration decisions protect the authenticity, values and attributes of Sharjah’s historic buildings for future generations.

The second day covered restoration and rehabilitation approaches, including completion, replacement and addition techniques, structural reinforcement and the integration of modern infrastructure, all while preserving heritage values.

The programme concluded with discussions on long-term management, including maintenance strategies and the proposed use of Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) to support the documentation, monitoring and management of building elements and heritage attributes.

The workshop concluded with recommendations to strengthen cooperation and coordination among entities responsible for conserving and managing Sharjah’s historic buildings.

Supporting World Heritage stewardship

The World Heritage Office was established to develop and manage nomination files for sites of Outstanding Universal Value across the emirate and to oversee the protection, conservation and long-term management of sites inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and Tentative List.

The office also collaborates with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and specialised international organisations to exchange expertise, build professional capacity and raise awareness of World Heritage.

In coordination with the Scientific Committee for the Faya World Heritage Property, the office oversees the Government of Sharjah’s AED 2 million Faya Research Grant Programme, which supports international scientific collaboration and archaeological research at one of the world’s significant prehistoric landscapes.