Preservation of the architectural heritage and historic buildings is an objective strived for in many countries, both developed and developing. The heritage and historical sites symbolize, reveal and represent valuable and significant insights nations to the heritage of many countries (Salama, 2015). Therefore, they need special consideration in terms of legislation, regulations and politic visions which can be ensuring preserved since these sites for the future and present-day tourist attractions (Boussaa, 2014). Albeit several policies and guidelines regarding heritage preservation in many nations, there is no current consistent preservation approach, partly, because preservation of the heritage is a field which can be termed “interdisciplinary”. Due to the diverse approaches to preserving architectural heritage and historical sites (Salama, 2015). Because of the several dimensions and aspects of the preservation of heritage and historical sites, researchers and academics claim that future studies in heritage conservation should focus on comprehension of the factors that transform conservation, particularly, considering heritage stakeholders since their diversity of interests, beliefs and perceptions poses complicated concerns for the decision-making. (Amar et al., 2017). This is significant, especially in an age where technological advancement has started to influence decisions and processes within the built environment. This paper focuses on the value of the policies and regulations set by the Dubai Municipality relating to how they support the preservation of cultural and historical heritage within its city.

The preservation of historical and cultural heritage sites entails various tasks. Primarily, the implementation and realization of sustainable preservation of built heritage need appropriate policies and strategies that are well organized. However, the built heritage regulations, policies, and legislation vary from one country to another. For example, in several developed nations, the heritage sites or locations must have historical and significance value, thus, the first significant preservation policy is established on conserving the local or national identity. Another key policy element is for reclaiming the national identity which may have been lost due to whatever reason like in the case of Beirut project. The most important policy element which most nations are pursuing currently is using heritage and historical sites for tourism promotion. The other components or elements may include regenerating and safeguarding historic areas, Avrami et al., (2000). Comprehensive and inclusive built heritage legislation or policy can include all the mentioned ideas so as to make the most use of the potential these sites.

This research uses existing literature and primary evidence using documentation and plans obtained from the Architectural Heritage and Antiquates Department (AHAD) of Dubai Municipality. These documents are the general principles applied to historical areas, the general design principles for dealing with urban fabric and historical areas, planning principles and guidelines for dealing with historical areas, the requirements for the protection of historic buildings in Dubai, and the standards for dealing with facades in the historical area. It is essential to acknowledge that the above documents are only available in the Arabic language; this is due to the issuing authority. The documents that were relevant to the historical areas in Dubai were obtained For this paper which part of my PhD research.

According to (Dredge, 2006), there is not a specific policy which is suitable or appropriate for all the built historical and heritage sites in many countries depends on many factors such as social, cultural, economic, historical, architectural, urban and other factors that are related to these sites are considered in their broader contexts. Internationally, many organizations including the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM, 2018), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, 2018) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS, 2018) are seen as the pillars in the protection of the world heritage sites. When considered by Country-based, for instance, the national heritage act 2002 in the UK (National Heritage Act, 2002), the Law of the People's Republic of China on the protection of Cultural Relics (National People’s Congress, 2007) and Heritage policies for the European Union (European Capitals of Culture, 1985). In its broader context, ‘heritage’ is not restricted to physical artifacts, but it extends to cover intangible heritage (e.g. crafts and rituals), natural heritage (e.g. geological and biological) and cultural heritage (EPRS, 2018). In the Middle East, protecting heritage is considered as a major form of preserving cultural identity and values, hence benefiting from developed countries’ expertise.

On the one hand, in 2016, the British Council and the department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) funded countries such as Sudan, Lebanon and Egypt to safeguard and promote cultural heritage (British Council, 2017) where ICCROM and UNESCO are looking after the majority (if not all) the heritage sites in the Middle East. On the other hand, some Middle Eastern countries have established policies, departments and units to support protecting and preserving their heritage assets. Within the Arab world, the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) has set rules and policies to protect historical areas and places (Alnaser et al., 1995). In Saudi Arabia, for example, Bagader (2016) attempts to summaries approaches to protect and preserve the architectural, urban and historical built heritage, and they include:

Although the above demonstrates different considerations towards the protection and preservation of cultural heritage within a large country scale such as Saudi Arabia. In Dubai, the approach has significantly differed. The policies and regulations were set as a government city-based rather than country-based. It is highlighting the needs to further investigate and the dynamics in Dubai that helped form these policies and how they support the heritage and historical preservation in Dubai city, this is the intention of this paper.

Dubai City is one of the modern world capitals that has been rapidly transforming and developing since the 1990s. In Dubai, architectural preservation is relatively new and has been given significant attention only from the mid-1990s (Assi, 2015). The challenges to preserve Dubai’s heritage have been immense. (Assi, 2015) highlighted that rapid urban modernization and development in Dubai city has negatively impacted upon the historical, physical fabric of the region. The main impact has been felt by the residents of Dubai who have experienced many changes during the first few years after the establishment of Dubai state, in terms of distancing them from their traditional and local environment. Additionally, the discovery of the oil in the 1970s (Darke, 1998) led to the displacement of many individuals from their original settlements in Deira, Shindagha and Al Fahidi (famous heritage districts in Dubai City) to more modern neighborhoods. Consequently, many (if not the majority) of the historic buildings and structures were abandoned (Boussaa, 2014; Assi, 2015).

Following the rapid transformations that have occurred in Dubai city, Dubai municipality started to consider the preservation Dubai heritage and historical buildings as one of its essential priorities (Assi, 2008), hence in 1991, a heritage preservation unit was established. From the successes that this unit had in preserving the heritage, it later became the Historical Buildings and Exhibitions Division within the Architectural Heritage Department (AHD) and was recently renamed the Architectural Heritage and Antiquities Department (AHAD). Over the years, AHD has made significant strides in attaining its mission and objectives for the implementation of studies, supervision, enlightenment and spreading awareness regarding cultural heritage (Dubai Municipality, 1997). In fact, Rashad Bukash (Former CEO of AHD Department) in light of AHD stated:

"We try to come as close as restoring it to its original form based on our studies and interviews. We even use the same material as the original buildings – coral stone, gypsum, mud etc. Everything is carried out exactly according to the rules of UNESCO and World Heritage Centre" “We have a total of about 712 historic building in Dubai, and we have restored about 315 of them. We have a plan to finish the restoration of the remaining buildings by 2020” (The Tryptic Note, 2016)

In conclusion, Dubai and other cities in the Arabic Gulf region example of the rapid urban development in the modern and technological within the last decades. This is because these cities have rapidly developed from small merchant societies to flourishing commercial hubs mainly after the revenue of the oil in the region. The rapid development in terms of modernization and wealth has affected the economic and social structure resulting in the creation of urban environments which are fragmented. This paper demonstrates that the plan of work applied to Heritage preservation in Dubai support upholding the national identity and distinctiveness to reflected in the cultural values. Restoration of the historical and heritage sites is viewed as a plan to reunite the society with their history and culture by revitalizing its values, memories, and meaning of the region to facilitate identity, pride and a sense of belonging among the citizens of Dubai.

The perceptions required of the decision makers are recognized as one of the key factors necessary in order to achieve the sustainable preservation of the historic built heritage. Though, this significant factor is always overlooked and ignored in the history and heritage literature associated to how the perceptions of the decision makers drive the assessment and evaluation of these heritage sites, historic buildings, and monuments. With the escalating pressure to include different stakeholders in the process of decision-making, this research supports other ways to elicit a wider analysis regarding the perceptions of decision-makers and their significance towards the achievement of policy and realistic objectives for the preservation of the historical built heritage environment. In widening the preservation policies which impact upon the urban identity of the region, these are necessary to maintain the future.