In an exciting development for the UAE’s art and culture sector, Azza Aboualam has been appointed as the curator of the National Pavilion UAE for next year’s Venice Architecture Biennale. This prestigious appointment makes Aboualam the first Emirati woman to hold the position, marking a significant milestone for the country’s creative landscape.
Her selection is particularly meaningful, as it comes a decade after she first interned at the same pavilion during the 2014 Venice event. Reflecting on her journey, National Pavilion UAE director Laila Binbrek highlighted the significance of Aboualam’s appointment: “I am delighted to see an alumna of the Venice Internship programme returning as curator 10 years later. This speaks to our continuing commitment to the arts and culture ecosystem in the UAE, and the ways the National Pavilion UAE nurtures both the UAE’s cultural legacy and its future.”
Aboualam’s return to the National Pavilion UAE as curator feels like a moment of coming “full circle,” according to the architect herself. “As an intern, I was absorbing everything, learning from people, from every experience and interaction. I’m excited to be able to come back and contribute in a very different way.”
An Accomplished Architect and Researcher
A professor at Zayed University, Aboualam was chosen following an open call to academics and artists across the country. Her selection was made by a committee of leading figures from the UAE’s creative sector, reflecting her strong credentials and commitment to exploring the intersections of architecture, culture, and research.
Aboualam is not just an academic but also a practicing architect and researcher. She co-founded Holesum Studio, an interdisciplinary architecture and design practice based in New York and Sharjah. As the studio’s director of research, she works alongside fellow Yale University graduates Dimitri Brand and James Coleman to blend historical, sociological, and environmental studies with innovative design. The studio aims to create objects and spaces that foster meaningful engagement with the environment.
A Curatorial Vision Rooted in UAE’s Cultural Heritage
Hinting at what the National Pavilion UAE might offer at the upcoming Biennale, Aboualam shared that her research focuses on “local food production methods and its overlap with the architecture and built environment.” This proposal stems from her extensive research on the UAE’s material culture and built heritage, aligning closely with her past work.
Aboualam’s commitment to understanding the intricate relationship between environment, architecture, and society is evident in her previous projects. She has been an active contributor to the UAE’s cultural and architectural discourse, working with the Ministry of Culture’s Architecture Initiative. Her field research was published in the 2019 book In Search of Spaces of Coexistence: An Architect’s Journey, where she documented over 150 buildings around the UAE to explore how architecture can serve as a medium for social coexistence.
“In that book, I actually went to about 150 or 160 buildings around the UAE just to document them, just to see how architecture and society can overlap within a built structure or the theme of coexistence,” Aboualam said.
Her research has also informed prominent works such as Showpiece City: How Architecture Made Dubai (2020) and Building Sharjah (2021), positioning her as a leading voice in the UAE’s architectural narrative.
Reflecting the UAE’s Legacy and Future
Aboualam’s appointment is not just about breaking new ground for Emirati women in architecture—it is also about celebrating the UAE’s cultural and architectural legacy. Her research and curatorial vision promise to reflect the rich material heritage of the UAE while offering a forward-thinking perspective on global architectural discourse.
Commenting on the impact of Aboualam’s selection, UAE Minister of Culture Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi said, “The National Pavilion UAE will showcase innovative research from the UAE, bringing fresh perspectives to the international stage. It is heartening to see our nation’s brightest minds and their compelling narratives resonating and engaging with people worldwide.”
The Venice Architecture Biennale is known for its thought-provoking exhibitions and global reach, making it an ideal platform to showcase the UAE’s dynamic cultural scene. With Azza Aboualam at the helm, next year’s National Pavilion UAE promises to be a powerful statement on the interplay between environment, architecture, and cultural identity.
Aboualam’s journey from intern to curator symbolizes the growth of the UAE’s creative sector and the opportunities it creates for emerging talents. Her research, rooted in the UAE’s local context, will not only contribute to global conversations on architecture but also highlight the country’s unique approach to tackling contemporary issues such as sustainability, cultural preservation, and social cohesion.
