AlAnood AlShaikh
Humanities Research Fellow
Affiliation: NYU Abu Dhabi
Education: BA, Zayed University, Dubai; MA, Zayed University, Dubai; PhD, University of Birmingham
Research Areas: Arabian Gulf Heritage, UNESCO Heritage Lists, Cultural Monitoring, Cultural Tourism & Communication, Heritagisation & Commodification, Staged & Living Heritage, Interpretation & Meaning-making
About AlAnood
AlAnood possesses a unique perspective on the contextualisation, institutionalisation, heritagisation, and safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. Her managerial and research work focuses on the heritage-making processes and under-recognised intangible meanings, narratives, practices, and values of heritage by official bodies in the conservation, interpretation, and procedure of inscription of elements on the UNESCO’s heritage lists - including processes of cultural monitoring, documentation of local heritage, and the transmission of community and context-based traditional practices that are integral to protecting World Heritage values and attributes. Her current qualifications allow connecting multifaceted and interdisciplinary cultural approaches that prospects living heritage as a driving force for sustainable development that is often overlooked despite its economic and social significance; hence offering holistic and reconciliation approach to the intangibility of World Heritage.
Publications
AlShaikh, A. The Value of Authenticity in Heritagization: An Exploratory Case Study on Dubai Historical District (DHD). MA thesis, Zayed University, United Arab Emirates, 2017.
AlShaikh, A. Shifting Scenes of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the United Arab Emirates: Working towards Building a New Heritage in the Arabian Gulf region. PhD thesis, University of Birmingham, School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion, Department of Theology and Religion, 2024.
