The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority calling for enhanced cooperation & partnership between the two entities in designing and constructing the Etihad Museum Project along with the new Pole for a flag hoisting 123 meters above the ground.
Attending the signing of the MoU were HE Mohammed Ahmed Al Mur, Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Etihad Museum, HE Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gargawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs and Future. HE Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority signed the MoU on behalf of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. On behalf of RTA, HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA signed the MoU. Attending the signing were also HE Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and HE Helal Al Marri, Director-General of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
According to the MoU, RTA caters to designing and constructing the Etihad Museum project next to the Union House that saw the signing of the constituent document of the UAE federation back in 1971. It will also undertake the refurbishment of Al Diyafa Palace and the Union House, construction of a flagpole rising 123 meters and a car park with a capacity to accommodate 200 cars. It will also source exhibits according to the chronicle endorsed by the Advisory Committee, and lend support to the Culture & Arts Authority concerning branding the Museum. RTA has also to offer the kind of support needed by the Museum operator towards finalizing internal restaurants, food-processing facilities within the Museum and Al Diyafa Palace, and operating the gifts shop.
According to the MoU, RTA has to provide access to staff of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority to the site of permanent galleries of the Museum as well as their office space in order to start the necessary training from mid of August 2016. It will also provide the assistance needed in regards to all technical matters related to the production of entry cards for the Museum (NOL cards) upon the project completion by the end of Sept this year. The final handing over of the project to the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority will be by the end of September this year, and every support will be extended for a successful opening ceremony on December 2, 2016.
The MoU provides for the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority to undertake all requirements of the Museum branding, and communicate with local & federal government entities of the UAE as well as the international organizations to identifying the would-be exhibits, reviewing the design of permanent galleries & artefacts proposed by the Museum’s consultant, unleashing ‘Etihad Museum Exhibits’ campaign, mapping out & running a branding campaign, and reviewing the contents as per the chronicle endorsed by the Advisory Committee. It has also to attend to releasing tenders for sourcing & appointing operators to run internal restaurants, gifts shop, and the premises of the museum besides sourcing necessary security firms. The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority has to run training programs for Emiratis, procure all office supplies, and receive copies of engineering layouts, operation & maintenance manuals, and relevant documentation from RTA.
According to the MoU, the two parties will facilitate the exchange of best practices in the field of innovation & creativity in line with the Dubai Government drive. They will also assist the exchange of knowledge in fields of relevance to strategic plans & technical affairs as well as the best administrative practices.
HE Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority said: “The signing of the MoU is in line with the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to design & construct the Etihad Museum. It also stems from the historical significance of the place and the value of the building that witnessed the signing of the declaration establishing the federation of the United Arab Emirates.
“Through the Etihad Museum, the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority aims to instill & perpetuate the concept of the union’s value in the conscience of citizens & upcoming generations, documenting the stages of establishing the federation, and showcasing the roles of the founding late fathers; Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Through the Museum, we also aim to highlight the sweeping development and landmark achievements besides turning the existing site into a tourist attraction and a cultural destination for citizens, residents and tourists,” explained Al Owais.
“The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority is keen to pursue its role of reasserting Dubai on the map as one of the fastest growing cultural & artistic destination in the region and beyond. The Etihad Museum would help boost the public awareness about the civilized values as well as the authentic Emirati culture, norms and traditions. It would also build a bridge of civilization between the UAE community and all other communities living in the country based on tolerance & happiness, which would thrust our cultural legacy in the memory of living generations. Upon completion, the Museum would be a principal & reliable source of historical & national information, documents, images, and private & cultural artefacts. It will also shape into a destination for specialist researchers & historians, and furnish successive Emirati generations with cognitive values enriching their academic, practical and social careers,” added Al Owais.
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