UAE pavilion names Dalia Hamati as curator for Venice Architecture Biennale 2027

Dalia Hamati has been chosen as the curator for the UAE Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2027. Her exhibition will delve into the UAE's relationship with water and how that knowledge can guide future building practices in a warming climate. Hamati, an architect and assistant professor at the American University of Sharjah, was selected through an open call.

Her proposal combines UAE history, atmospheric science, and environmental design. At the UAE Pavilion, the exhibition will explore how water has influenced communities and the systems developed to distribute it. Running from May 8 to November 21, 2027, the exhibition will run at the UAE's permanent pavilion in the Arsenale's Sale d'Armi.

The title and design are still being finalized, with further details expected in January. Hamati's interest in water was sparked after giving a lecture to students at the Rhode Island School of Design in October last year, and her exploration of the topic has led her to consider how historical practices could inform contemporary water usage in a warming world.

She notes that the UAE has an extensive water infrastructure, but the contrast between the country's arid climate and its constant water supply raises important cultural questions. Hamati highlights traditional UAE structures like arish buildings, wind towers, and compact settlements as examples of how design can adapt to the climate, emphasizing the importance of working with local materials and understanding airflow, orientation, and local resources.

Born in Sharjah in 1984, Hamati has a background in architecture, having studied at the University of Bath and Columbia University and previously working at Ennead Architects in New York. She currently lives in Dubai, where she runs an independent architecture and design practice while teaching in Sharjah. Hamati's professional work often addresses the environmental impact of construction, from land clearance to building energy consumption and post-demolition waste.

Her recent projects include leading the design of Tarabot: Weaving a Living Forum and collaborating on ReRoot, a project that used mycelium to create shelters for displaced communities. The UAE Pavilion's exhibition will draw on research partnerships and a publication, exploring Venice's own water challenges and hydrocultural history in dialogue with the UAE's experiences.