In 1989 Sheikh Zayed, the founder of the nation, and Yasser Arafat laid a cornerstone on a plot of land designated by the Government as the site for the Embassy of the State of Palestine.But work did not get far. Now, almost 20 years later, the new embassy is finally taking shape thanks to an Dh8 million (US$2.2m) donation from Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
Construction, delayed primarily by a lack of funds, is on schedule to be completed by January. Thanks to Dr. Khairi al Oridi, the present Palestinian Ambassador, who made its completion a priority.“The problem was to do with financing the project and Dr Oridi made it his goal to build the embassy while he is still here .
When Dr Oridi took up his post he began collecting donations towards the Dh16m needed to build the embassy.The UAE’s Palestinian community donated Dh2m and Palestinians outside the country gave Dh2m. Another Dh4m has been pledged in the form of building materials and Sheikh Khalifa has given the rest.“My ambition is for the new embassy to be like a real reflection of the relationship between the UAE and Palestine,” said Dr Oridi. “The shape of the [current] embassy does not express this.”
The new compound in Al Safarat neighbourhood will include the embassy building and the ambassador’s residence. An imposing feature will be Al Quds Hall topped by a golden dome in homage to the Dome of the Rock, or Kubat al Sakhra, in Jerusalem, and to the memory of Sheikh Zayed. “Al Quds was always in his heart so that’s why we are doing this,” Dr Oridi said.
Construction, delayed primarily by a lack of funds, is on schedule to be completed by January. Thanks to Dr. Khairi al Oridi, the present Palestinian Ambassador, who made its completion a priority.“The problem was to do with financing the project and Dr Oridi made it his goal to build the embassy while he is still here .
When Dr Oridi took up his post he began collecting donations towards the Dh16m needed to build the embassy.The UAE’s Palestinian community donated Dh2m and Palestinians outside the country gave Dh2m. Another Dh4m has been pledged in the form of building materials and Sheikh Khalifa has given the rest.“My ambition is for the new embassy to be like a real reflection of the relationship between the UAE and Palestine,” said Dr Oridi. “The shape of the [current] embassy does not express this.”
The new compound in Al Safarat neighbourhood will include the embassy building and the ambassador’s residence. An imposing feature will be Al Quds Hall topped by a golden dome in homage to the Dome of the Rock, or Kubat al Sakhra, in Jerusalem, and to the memory of Sheikh Zayed. “Al Quds was always in his heart so that’s why we are doing this,” Dr Oridi said.
From The National
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