15 Establishments Celebrated With Abu Dhabi's Urban Treasures Accolade

The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced the recipients of this year’s Urban Treasures awards. This annual initiative honours long-running establishments that have significantly shaped Abu Dhabi’s urban and social landscape. The awards ceremony took place at the Cultural Foundation, where Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, presented the awards to 15 businesses selected from across the emirate.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak stated, "Our Urban Treasures initiative preserves and promotes Abu Dhabi's unique cultural identity, reflecting the great emotional significance these 15 establishments have held for our community for over 20 years. They evoke nostalgia for times past while remaining integral parts of the community today. These establishments have witnessed the capital’s growth and contributed to the identity and vitality of our neighbourhoods, strengthening the social and cultural fabric of the emirate. Through Urban Treasures, we aim to further raise the profiles of these establishments and ensure they thrive for generations to come. This initiative aligns with our strategy to preserve and promote Abu Dhabi's unique cultural identity and share it with the world – while also celebrating it locally."

Now in its third edition, the Urban Treasures initiative was launched to recognise the city's landmark homegrown businesses. These include restaurants, bakeries, tailors, fabric stores, perfumeries, jewellers, pharmacies, photography studios, and similar establishments that have thrived in Abu Dhabi for 20 years or more. The award aims to raise the profiles of these "treasures" and preserve them for future generations.

The Urban Treasures award aligns with DCT Abu Dhabi’s Modern Heritage Initiative, which celebrates and safeguards the emirate’s more recent past. This initiative seeks to highlight establishments that have become integral parts of Abu Dhabi’s cultural landscape.

Public Participation

Nominations for Urban Treasures 2024 were opened to the public last year. This allowed residents to participate in celebrating these long-standing establishments. The nominations were then filtered and evaluated by a committee based on set criteria.

With inputs from WAM