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A team of researchers from Harvard University (USA) has recently visited the National Center for Documentation and Research (NCDR) with a view to conducting a comprehensive research project focusing on sustainable urbanism in the Gulf region.
This Qatar Foundation project is the first of its kind and will draw on the region’s environment, its urbanism and architecture, and its society, culture and economics.
This holistic, trans-national study which includes Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Iran and Iraq will lead to the creation of a ’Gulf Encyclopedia for Sustainable Urbanism’ (GESU) and to the establishment of a regional base research facility in Qatar. The similarities and differences between these eight countries that border the Gulf have never been examined in such a comprehensive study.
The team held a lengthy meeting with counterparts at the NCDR, a Department of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, to obtain detailed information on particular subjects such the overall history, geography, ecology, tribal maps and urban development along the Gulf coasts in the past, and especially in the UAE.
The team was particularly impressed by the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan era, especially his role in founding the Union and the rapid development of the UAE The team praised the accuracy and comprehensive nature of the information received and paid tribute to the NCDR holdings of historical documents, maps and photographs from which they selected valuable material for their project.
Team members also praised NCDR publications and expressed their hope to maintain regular contact with the Center. They particularly praised two NCDR books: Zayed from Challenges to Union and Qasr Al-Hosn.
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