Venice:The National Pavilion UAE has appointed architect, educator, and researcher Dalia Hamati as curator for the UAE's participation in the 20th International Architecture Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia, scheduled for 2027 from May 8 to November 21.

According to Emirates News Agency, Hamati's research, developed in collaboration with UAE-based researchers and practitioners, will explore the relationship between architecture, climate, and water. This work seeks to reshape the understanding of water in a warming and urbanizing world and will be presented in Venice, accompanied by a dedicated publication.

She was chosen through an open call by the National Pavilion UAE, targeting architects, designers, artists, historians, and researchers from the UAE and the MENASA regions. The call aimed to uncover overlooked stories from the UAE.

Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE's Minister of Culture, expressed the Ministry's dedication to supporting local architects, designers, and researchers, emphasizing Hamati's work as a reflection of the UAE's innovation and creativity.

Angela Migally, Executive Director at the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, stated that the Foundation is committed to bolstering the UAE's creative ecosystem and facilitating dialogues that connect local and global perspectives. She highlighted the exhibition's engagement with water and climate issues as significant to both local and international contexts.

Hamati noted that the exhibition emerges from a deep engagement with the UAE's environmental challenges and hopes it will inspire new architectural approaches for a resilient future. Laila Binbrek, Director of the National Pavilion UAE, praised Hamati's proposal for its blend of architectural history, environmental research, and design innovation, showcasing the UAE's unique perspective on global issues.

The National Pavilion UAE will present its exhibition at the UAE's permanent pavilion at the Arsenale - Sale d'Armi. This participation marks the UAE's 16th entry in the International Art and Architecture Exhibitions by La Biennale di Venezia and its seventh in the International Architecture Exhibition. The 2027 event is curated by Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu under the theme 'Do Architecture - For the Possibility of Coexistence Facing a Real Reality.' The pavilion is commissioned by the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation and supported by the Ministry of Culture.