The largest of several oases in the city, the Al Ain Oasis sits on Abu Dhabi Emirate’s eastern border with Oman. Its name, referring to the freshwater springs in the region’s otherwise arid landscape, means “the source,” and archaeological evidence suggests that these springs have been channeled by humans through underground courses for over three thousand years. This rich history led the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage to commission Machado Silvetti to create a cultural master plan for the Oasis, and to initiate its application for UNESCO World Heritage status. The master plan was completed in 2010 and UNESCO inscription was achieved in 2011. 

The Al Ain Master Plan creates an interconnected network of cultural venues and public spaces that preserves the Oasis and its periphery. By establishing new visual and physical connections between the Oasis and the surrounding city, the master plan effectively reinforces the relationship between the two. It also expands and enhances the existing Al Ain National Museum, creating a new anchor for what is to become the city’s Cultural Quarter.