Restoration of 230 historic homes to be completed by 2015

The Architectural Heritage department has already restored 164 houses.

Rashad Mohammed Bukhash, the director of Dubai's architectural heritage department, says Bastakiya, above, is one of the areas on which the restoration plans will focus to attract people back to the aShow more

DUBAI // The restoration of 230 historic homes in the emirate will be completed by 2015.

To date, 164 buildings have already been renovated in older parts of the city such as Shindagha, Al Bastakiya, Deira and Bur Dubai.

Developments began replacing old areas during the construction boom in the 1970s that followed the discovery of oil in the 1960s.

Today only 230 houses remain of the 2,300 homes that existed in the 1950s, according to a study conducted by Dubai Municipality's architectural heritage department.

"Dubai was lucky compared to other cities across the GCC, where more were demolished," said Rashad Mohammed Bukhash, the director of the department.

In 1991, the architectural heritage department was formed and, since then, 164 houses and 156 other buildings - such as forts, watchtowers, markets and mosques - have been restored, each with a budget of between Dh1 million and Dh1.5m.

"We are focusing on two main residential areas, Bastakiya and Shindagha, to attract people back. This is difficult because most people have their own villas," Mr Bukhash said. "The plan is to make the areas touristic, cultural and full of heritage."

The department will increase efforts to preserve heritage through 78 projects planned for completion by the end of this year. These include open air plazas in Shindagha, Deira and Bur Dubai and the Al Aqaili Museum, named after the Dubai poet.

"Preservation is crucial to create awareness among all generations, because it allows for greater insight into the past," said Ahmed Mahmood Ahmed, the head of the architectural heritage department's execution section, which oversees restoration.

"If you restore an area like Bastakiya for multipurpose use such as galleries, museums or markets, it becomes an important tool for residents, tourists and research."