Etihad Museum

Support novel research

The research grant was designed to support original research that will expand the discourse on UAE history and culture, establishing the museum as a platform for thought leadership and dynamic storytelling. Through this initiative, we aim to move the Etihad Museum beyond its role as a repository of artefacts, transforming into a vibrant hub of knowledge production that invites researchers to reinterpret Emirati identity through new lenses. By encouraging fresh scholarship in the UAE, the grant supports academic and cultural discourse on both national and global scales.

Contemporise a historical site

The grant further seeks to contemporise the museum’s narrative, ensuring that interpretations of the UAE’s history remain relevant and resonate with a diverse, modern audience. Through the lens of current scholarship, Etihad Museum’s narratives will continue to reflect the evolving identity of the UAE, enriching the visitor experience with perspectives that connect the past with the present.

Encourage non-traditional approaches

While rooted in scholarly ambitions, the research grant welcomes and encourages non-traditional approaches to research. Prioritizing research which contributes to new knowledge, challenges existing assumptions, or offers novel interpretations of Emirati history and culture. In the spirit of accessibility, the grant does not require a peer-reviewed paper to be produced as an outcome but rather remains open to research outcomes that may be non-linguistic, media-based, or archival.