The document proposes building the Royal Academy of Sciences of the United Arab Emirates, called the new Hill of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikma), in Abu Dhabi. It would serve as a cultural center highlighting the UAE's rich historical and scientific heritage. The building's design would symbolize key aspects of Arab and Islamic culture through its resemblance to a sand hill and inclusion of motifs like the Emerald Tablet. It aims to educate visitors and promote unity across the UAE. Locating it in Abu Dhabi establishes the city as a new center of Arab culture. The Academy would also host conferences and literary events to further research.

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

2. 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 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. The islands
and the coast of Abu Dhabi were part of a system of commercial trade that
stretched from Ras Al Khaimah to Iraq around 7000 years ago.
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).

3. Project Justification from the Point of View of Location
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.
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.).
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.).

5. Project Justification from the Point of View of Historical Tradition
 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.

6. 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.

8. Proposal
The new centre could be the UAE Academy of
Sciences.
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).

9. Basis of the concept of the building
It is essential that the building should magically blend with the
environment in the same way that the past blends with the present.
The building should be spiritually symbolical, making one to sense the
completeness of the universe given by Allah.
Bayt al-Hikma should be an original building that would be designed
in line with the traditions of Arab and Islamic culture and it should take
an important place among other landmarks of this country that are
world-famous.

14. 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.

20. The building of the Royal Academy of Sciences,
that represents a sand hill, created by the wind,
matches the desert 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. Like a cave in the rock it hides
treasures: hidden treasury of intellectual
resources.

22. 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. This
corresponds to the UAE strategy of developing
nature-friendly knowledge and technologies.

24. 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 Academy of Sciences
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”.

27. 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.
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 building.

29. 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)
‫ا‬ً‫م‬ْ‫ل‬ِ‫ع‬‫ي‬ِ‫ن‬ْ‫د‬ ِ‫ز‬ِِّ‫ب‬َ‫ر‬ِّْ‫ل‬ُ‫ق‬َ‫و‬

35. It is very important that the
building is illuminated at night.

38. 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.

40. -The building must be ready for the
World Expo 2020.
- Currently this is only a vision.

41. Importance of Bayt al-Hikma
in the Future

42. Royal Academy of Sciences of the United Arab Emirates will be the first
national Academy of Sciences of a Gulf Region Arab country.
Bayt al-Hikma may become one of the symbols of unity of the entire United
Arab Emirates and promote the unity of the country. At the same time, it
would provide a deeper insight in the Arab (and the Emirates) culture for
foreign visitors.
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 library building could become a bright landmark of
Abu Dhabi panorama.
Bayt al-Hikma would be the destination of visits also during protocol events:
for delegations at the highest level (statesmen’s visits, etc.).

43. 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.
The many universities and their branches that have been recently
founded in the United Arab Emirates need a single common scientific
research centre that they all would use depending on their special areas.
Bayt al-Hikma could perform such function.
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.

44. Let the Emirates Hill of Wisdom
become the sequel of the House of
Wisdom (Arabic: ‫الحكمة‬ ‫بيت‬; Bayt al-
Hikma) of the ancient Baghdad!