AUS faculty member Dalia Hamati appointed curator of National Pavilion UAE at Venice Biennale Architettura 2027

Photo: Nino Consorte (SeeingThings) - courtesy of the National Pavilion UAE, La Biennale di Venezia

Dalia Hamati, Assistant Professor of Architecture at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD), has been appointed Curator of the National Pavilion UAE at the 20th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia in Venice, Italy in 2027.

Selected through a competitive open call organized by the National Pavilion UAE, Hamati will lead an exhibition examining how architecture and communities in the UAE have responded to water and climate changes. Her concept looks at historical and indigenous models in the UAE to examine how living design and architectural practices can reshape human relationships with water in an increasingly changing and rapidly urbanizing world.

Hamati’s work combines architectural research and teaching with a focus on the intersection of social and ecological systems and social conditions that shape the built environment. At CAAD, her research contributes to the university’s focus on sustainable design along with material innovation and regional context. This underscores the status of AUS as a prominent regional hub for architectural instruction and research-informed design practice, supported by its 2026 QS ranking as first in the UAE and among the top 200 institutions worldwide for architecture and the built environment.

"As the national pavilion, we are interested in telling an authentic Emirati story," said Hamati. "We’re looking back at some incredibly unique models that have been in the UAE for hundreds, if not thousands of years. This will enable us to inform future innovative models about how we live with water today and in the future of a warming planet. Meaningful contributions to global conversations start from a careful understanding of our region. My hope is that this exhibition will encourage new ways of thinking about our relationship with water and the built environment."

“We are immensely proud of Dalia on her appointment,” said Professor Joseph Colistra, Dean of CAAD. “This reflects the caliber of our faculty and underscores our dedication to research that matters, such as climate resilience and sustainable urbanization. Having our faculty curate UAE’s pavilion on such a cultural stage demonstrates the impact of AUS' academic and creative leadership. We look forward to seeing her research and ideas represented in Venice.”

The exhibition will be presented at La Biennale di Venezia from May 8 to November 21, 2027, hosted at the UAE’s permanent pavilion located in the Sale d’Armi at Arsenale in Venice, Italy.

For more information about the AUS College of Architecture, Art and Design , visit www.aus.edu/caad. 

About the National Pavilion UAE

The National Pavilion UAE, commissioned by the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, UAE, curates uninterrupted national presentations at La Biennale di Venezia, one of the world’s most celebrated cultural exhibitions. Established to showcase the UAE's vibrant art and architecture scenes, the pavilion provides an international platform for research and creative practice originating from the Emirates.

For more information about the exhibition, please visit www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/2027.