Idris Khan

British artist Idris Khan worked with UAP to realise Wahat al Karama, a monument acting as the centerpiece of the new United Arab Emirates (UAE) Memorial Park, in Abu Dhabi.

Commissioned by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the memorial honours the members of the UAE Armed Forces and the sacrifices made in support of their country’s sovereignty, dignity and freedom.

Meaning “the oasis of dignity”, Wahat al Karama is a 90-metre long monument comprised of 31 leaning tablets which symbolise the support between soldiers, families and citizens in the face of adversity. Clad with over 850 cast aluminium panels, sections of the tablets are sandblasted and stamped with poems by emirs of the UAE. 

The ‘Pavilion of Honour’ positioned at the end of the memorial journey was designed by Khan in collaboration with bureau^proberts. The internal walls of the pavilion are clad with over 2,700 plates cast from 11 tons of recycled aluminium sourced from decommissioned armoured vehicles. The plates are embedded with names of UAE heroes whose lives have been lost in service.

Idris Khan was selected for the project from a curation of international artists, where a strong cultural connection and understanding made his memorial the winning concept. UAP worked closely with Khan, from concept design to fabrication and installation, to translate his vision into this monumental work. The memorial was officially opened by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in November 2016, coinciding with the UAE’s inaugural Commemoration Day ceremony.