1. 1
VISION of the Building of the Royal Academy of Sciences of the
United Arab Emirates – the new Hill of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikma).
proposed by Professor, Dr. Kaspars Klavins
Project Justification from the Point of View of Cultural History and
Scientific Potential of the UAE
Placed at the crossroads of very ancient civilizations, The United Arab
Emirates perpetuate a great cultural and historical tradition. The ancient
hunter-gatherers and the early agriculturists, prehistoric Ubaidians and the
old Sumerians who invented writing, the Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians:
all of them were linked to the land which today is the grounds for one of the most
successful modern states, the UAE.
The UAE holds archaeological findings that date back to more than a million
years. In ancient times, this land was the cornerstone of international trade
between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. All the most essential messages
of humanity from the deep past relate to the Arabian Gulf: the Great Flood,
the legend of a lovely land called Dilmun, the Sumerian hero Gilgamesh and
his search of the Tree of Life. The UAE holds prominent material evidence of
ancient cultures, which the humanity uses to ask again the major questions
about the attitude towards nature and the environment, the possibilities for
civilizations to survive, about food, medicines, eating habits, etc.
The cultural and historical as well as scientific and technical potential of the
Emirates is a unique source of inspiration for specialists, enthusiasts,
politicians, entrepreneurs, tourists and all others who visit this country (let us
remember, for example, Masdar City or Zayed Desert Learning Centre).
The modern discoveries in the context of the Arabian Peninsula, the GCC
region and the UAE prompt us to reconsider the great historical riddles and,
subsequently, allows us to find solutions to the modern problems of ecology,
biology and medicine. For example, experts are now starting to revise the
assumption that horses were first domesticated in Kazakhstan some 6000
years ago, admitting that this process might have started earlier in the
Arabian Peninsula. The Kilwa coins, found in North Australia, suggest that
Arab sailors – who had settled in East Africa from present day Bahrain,

2. 2
United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia or Yemen – ‘discovered’ Australia
centuries before Captain Cook.
The visitors of the UAE are fascinated and enticed by the traditions of this
country’s Bedouins, seamen and traders, whose uniqueness lies exactly in the
parallel existence of different areas of human activity. This is evidenced not
only by generally known and widely popularised travel destinations, but also
by many less known places (for example, the fishing village of Ghagha island,
which was a permanent living location over a longer period of time and
whose originality could be envied by many European open-air museums,
etc.).
Regretfully, lesser informed statesmen, diplomats and business people, who
only pay short visits to Abu Dhabi, the administrative and financial
metropolis of the UAE, cannot immediately see the cultural, historical and scientific
potential of this country. They do not gain a straightforward idea about it after just a short
excursion around the city centre. In most cases, they do not have time to visit the many
museums of the UAE, its cultural and exhibition centres in Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah etc.
Pressurised by the constraints of time, as it happens nowadays, they often
cannot even go to Saadiyat Cultural District to see the outstanding exhibitions
organized there. Diplomats and business people, who are often, at the same
time, influential sponsors of science and patrons of arts in their countries, do
not have the opportunities to become acquainted with Masdar City or the
unique ideas and projects developed at Zayed Desert Learning Centre. It
would be especially important for the visitors of Abu Dhabi to have easy
access to possibly varied information about the cultural resources and history
of all the United Arab Emirates. Further to the Heritage Village and Qasr Al
Hosn, one more information centre, reflecting the entire Emirates, would be vitally
important here.
Project Justification from the Point of View of Location
Apart from the already existing places of interest in Abu Dhabi, it would be
most important to establish an information centre in the heart of the downtown
area, which should be fast and easily accessible and reflect the potentials of history,
culture and science in the UAE and the GCC region. It could be the destination of
visits also during protocol events: for delegations at the highest level
(statesmen’s visits etc.).
Project Justification from the Point of View of Historical Tradition

3. 3
The centres of Arab civilization and culture have always shifted. Just like in
Europe, where the role of particular cities, states and regions in attracting
cultural values have changed in the course of history, so in the Arab world
cultural centres have changed location under the influence of socio-economic
processes, military invasions, etc. (Damascus, Baghdad, Al-Andalus, etc.).
Culture has always flourished under the best preconditions. However, while
changing location, each subsequent centre of the Arab culture has always
inherited the centuries old wealth of Arab culture and Islamic civilization. In
the long course of Arab history, this transplantation of culture is an organic
phenomenon. The very shifting of the centre of civilization has itself become a
tradition over the centuries. Today, the UAE capital Abu Dhabi is the
evidence that the Arab axis of culture is shifting eastwards towards the Gulf
cities.
Project Justification from the Point of View of the Current Situation
Considering that the UAE has now become the cornerstone attracting
innovations, sciences, culture and investments from the whole Arab world
and the Gulf region, it could become the place for the renaissance of the mega
project of the Arabian civilization. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE and the centre
which accumulates scientific achievements and cultural values of the entire
United Arab Emirates and the whole GCC region, would be the most
appropriate place for such project.
Recently, Abu Dhabi has become a global leader in arts. It plans to construct
an opera house, a maritime museum and a national museum. Thus, it would
be the ideal place for a centre illuminating the resources of culture, history
and science from the entire United Arab Emirates (and all GCC countries)
which could also become a tourism brand and the symbol of identity of Abu
Dhabi.
Proposal

4. 4
The new centre could be the UAE Academy of Sciences.
It could be named Royal Academy of Sciences of the United Arab
Emirates.
Justification of the Proposal
At the moment Emirates do not have their own Academy of Sciences.
The House of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikma) in ancient Baghdad (from the 9th to
the 13th century) was a major centre during the Islamic Golden Age. At the
same time, it was the place where local and international knowledge was
synthesized, systematized and where specific areas of research were
supported – it can be regarded as the first academy of sciences in the world.
Bayt al-Hikma combined the functions of information collection, translation,
interpretation, research, creation, presentation and popularization of
knowledge.
Even though the name of Bayt al-Hikma has also been later used in the
countries of the Middle East, it has never matched its initial meaning and
mission. There have been separate major projects aimed at revitalizing this
idea in Arab countries (e.g. in Iraq), but it has not succeeded due to external
and internal factors.

5. 5
Basis of the concept of the building.
Bayt al-Hikma should be an original building designed in line with the
traditions of Arab and Islamic culture and it should take an important place
among other world-famous landmarks of this country.
Contrary to the many brands of Western architecture adorning the UAE cities,
this building could symbolize the specific identity of the Arab culture.
As a result, Bayt al-Hikma would even more attract the attention of
international visitors who, when coming to the Emirates, are exactly looking
for the local landmarks, typical for the Arab and Islamic civilization.
Completion of the Proposal, Explanation of its Symbolic Message
The name of the building could be the Hill of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikma)
The exterior of the building should be simple and functional, but at the same
time it should not be a barely rational structure. On the contrary – it
should be spiritually symbolic, making one to sense the completeness
of the universe given by Allah. At the same time, knowledge is the way
to the God that makes one to understand and enjoy the diversity of
what the begetter has given.
- It is essential that the building should magically blend with the
environment in the same way that the past blends with the present.
They both reflect one another through accentuating the beautiful reliefs
of the one and the subtexts of the other.
- The building could be like a sand hill in the desert, created by the
wind, with a hidden treasury of intellectual resources, like a cave in the
rock hides treasures. These are not only material treasures, but also
intellectual values. A hill, a rock cave is a symbolically understandable
concept in the Arab tradition. It is the location of spiritual
concentration, revelation. The building of the Royal Academy of
Sciences that reflects the particular sand hill should match the desert

6. 6
landscape of the United Arab Emirates. At the same time, such concept
stresses the superiority and beauty of the god-created nature over any
formation created and constructed by the man.
- Since the Academy of Sciences should stand for the unity of the
country, all tones of sand characteristic to the Emirates may be worked
into the building as a confirmation of identity.
- At the same time, the sand hill symbolises the closeness of the Arab
ancestors – ancient Bedouins – with the nature and the deep
knowledge of all aspects of nature that in their unity represent the
explanation of the world created by Allah. Also, the similarity of the
Academy of Sciences to a natural formation stands for the ecological,
environmentally friendly appeal by Islam to treat with care the natural
resources given by the God. This corresponds to the UAE strategy of
developing nature-friendly knowledge and technologies by creation of
an alternative wisdom base for the mankind.
- Wisdom emerges as if from a multitude of wisdom sand grains that are
brought together, and the Academy’s appeal should be – donation of
private investments for a common goal.
- The two columns at the entrance door symbolise the Emerald Tablet
(Tabula Smaragdina). The knowledge symbolised by the Emerald Tablet
in the Arab tradition comes from the prophet Idrīs. At the same time,
from the point of view of Islam this means that the wisdom
concentrated in the library is not only a human form of knowledge, but
a science revealed to the prophet Idrīs, regarding which it is stated in
the Holy Qur’an in verse 19: 56-57: “Mention, in the Book, Idrīs, that he
was truthful, a prophet. We took him up to a high place”.

7. 7
- The motif of Idrīs (Hermes Trismegistus) is also important from the
intercultural perspective, taking into account its former popularity in
Europe (and in the West in general). It became known to Europeans in
the Middle Ages only due to the Arab composition, after the
translation of which into Latin Emerald Tablet was perceived as the
symbol of the deepest wisdom in the West.
- Thus, the construction of the building of the Royal Academy of
Sciences with the inclusion into it of the motif of the Emerald Tablet
demonstrates the importance of the Arab wisdom in the genesis of the
entire modern civilisation and invite for cooperation modern scientists
from all over the world, thus also facilitating the cooperation between
the Eastern and Western science. Emerald Tablet has been depicted
differently in Europe (as an engraving on a rock, etc.). The image of
this rock could be used in the design of the central hall of the library.
- Images of ancient libraries, books and manuscripts or scholars could be
used for the interior decoration of the building as well. The Arab
material would be of high importance there, for example, the interior
images of the Ancient Baghdad (Bayt al-Hikma) that have been
preserved in an excellent condition and others images of similar
content.
- It is very important that the building is illuminated at night.
- The building could be divided in seven areas: 1) public / prayers,
2) exhibition / virtual museum / museum, 3) conference /reading, 4)
storage, 5) staff, 6) technical base and 7) hall of the UAE Academy of
Sciences. The parameters of the building depend on its location and
how it blends with the landscape, therefore they may change in
different circumstances. The location is of utter importance for this
project and everything else depends exactly on it.

8. 8
- There could be seven departments in the library storage facilities. Such
division also bears a symbolic meaning (in Islam the number seven is
very special. There are in total seven United Arab Emirates). Each
department could be devoted to a certain subject. For example:
- 1) Department for Research and Archaeology of the Ancient
Civilizations of the Middle East and GCC Region; 2) Department for
UAE Genealogy, Philology and Linguistics; 3) Department for
Environmental Science, Botany and Zoology in GCC; 4) Department
for Arab Traditional, Alternative and Herbal Medicine; 5) Department
for UAE and GCC History, Folklore and Ethnography; 6) Department
for Verification and Promotion of Modern Technologies; 7) Information
Centre for Promotion of the Values of the Arab Culture.
- Above the entrance into the building there could be an inscription – a
quote from the Quran urging to acquire knowledge: "My Lord! Enrich
me with knowledge…" (Quran, 20:114)
‫ ا ا‬‫ ا ا‬‫ ا ا‬‫ ا‬‫ ا ا‬‫ ا ا‬‫ ا ا‬‫ ا‬‫ ا‬‫ ا‬‫ ا ا‬‫ ا‬‫ ا‬‫ ا ا‬‫ ا ا‬‫ ا‬
- The building must be ready for the World Expo 2020.
- Currently this is only a vision.
Importance of Bayt al-Hikma in the Future

9. 9
1- The Royal Academy of Sciences may become one of the symbols of
unity of the entire United Arab Emirates and promote the unity of
the country. The visit of the RAS could be made mandatory for the
UAE youth and students in order to strengthen their cultural
origins and sense of identity. From this vantage point the RAS
would be an inherent precondition of the emiratisation policy. At
the same time, the RAS would provide a deeper insight in the Arab
(and the Emirates) culture for foreign students. It should be open to
everybody – the citizens of the Emirates and foreign specialists who
would like to do research here and would come here specifically for
that purpose.
2- As a national value, it might become a peculiar Emirates and
GCC brand that would be represented on postcards,
commemoration coins, etc. and also attract attention of tourists.
As a result of a good positioning within the landscape, the RAS
building could become a bright landmark of Abu Dhabi
panorama.
3- The many universities and their branches that have been recently
founded in the United Arab Emirates prove the orientation of the
country towards the knowledge society and moral values.
Nevertheless, all these universities need a single common scientific
research centre that they all would use depending on their special
areas. Bayt al-Hikma could perform such function.
4- RAS should work as an exhibition centre, presenting a concentrated
collection of all scientific, technological and art achievements of the
United Arab Emirates, ensuring that each Emirate has its own
stand. Bayt al-Hikma should also work as a centre presenting a
concentrated explanation of all scientific, technological and art
achievements of the United Arab Emirates and the cultural and
historical heritage of the Arabian Gulf. Also the internationally
famous Emirate Book Fairs could be held here.

10. 10
5- Bayt al-Hikma could also be the main location of Abu Dhabi where
foreign scientists and experts are invited, conferences and literary
evenings held, as well as discussions with writers, artists, etc.
organised.
6- At the same time, the building could also house the Information
Centre for Promotion of the Values of the Arab Culture. There is a
need for a coordination centre of a global scale to confute the myths
and stereotypes created all over the world in regard to the Middle
East history and Arab culture. The Emirates could undertake the
leading role in this regard due to their technological, scientific and
financial resources.
7- With a proud reference to the House of Wisdom (Arabic: ; Bayt al-
Hikma) built in Baghdad in the 9th
century, which contained a
synthesis of the then humanitarian and exact sciences, the United
Arab Emirates could be the right place for the first national
Academy of Sciences of a Gulf Region Arab country. From all the
Arab countries, Academies of Sciences currently exist only in
Lebanon (Lebanese Academy of Sciences) and in Jordan (the Islamic
World Academy of Sciences – IAS). In UAE, this institution, in the
new context of global scientific cooperation, would include certain
fields of research which are unique in the Emirates, thus creating its
own tradition of national science. The historical experience of the
best examples in the world could be studied in this connection,
including Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres and Académie des
sciences in France, Deutsche Akademie der Wissenschaften (the
Leopoldina) in Germany, Royal Society of Arts in United Kingdom
or the Russian Academy of Sciences. Considering the status of such
institution, it should certainly be in the capital Abu Dhabi. At the

11. 11
same time, in line with the tradition (the link between the
establishment of ancient Academies of Sciences with the rulers of
absolute monarchies), the new UAE Academy of Sciences could be
named Royal Academy of Sciences of the United Arab Emirates –
the new Hill of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikma).