Pre-Oil Emirati Life: A Study of Bait Al Naboodah Heritage
Explore the architecture and history of Bait Al Naboodah in Sharjah through this multimedia journalism pitch documenting pre-oil Emirati social history.
Bait Al Naboodah
Bridging the Gap to Pre-Oil Emirati Life
A Multimedia Journalism Project Pitch
Story Idea & Angle
Examining traditional Emirati architecture and life through Bait Al Naboodah in Sharjah.
Investigating how heritage sites function as educational spaces in a modernizing city.
“How effectively does Bait Al Naboodah communicate everyday pre-oil Emirati life to today’s youth?”
The 'urbanized' generation with limited contact with pre-oil social history.
Bait Al Naboodah
A 19th-century window into pre-oil Emirati life
Sharjah Heritage
Built circa 1845, this was the home of wealthy pearl merchant Obaid bin Eisa bin Ali Al Shamsi.
A two-story courtyard residence featuring coral stone walls, gypsum detailing, and traditional wind towers (Barjeel).
Following a major 2018 restoration, it now serves as a museum dedicated to the pearling economy.
Project Components
Multimedia Strategy
Deploying a precise mix of modern storytelling tools to reconstruct and preserve the authentic narrative of the pre-oil Emirati home.
Video & Interviews
Immersive physical layouts and guided expert tours that situate the viewer in the space.
Audio & Podcast
Capturing the intangible sounds of family life, traditional hospitality, and daily routines.
Photography
High-resolution documentation of intricate architectural details and wind towers.
Interactive & Data
Comparative visualization of traditional vs. modern homes and charts on housing shifts.
Production Roadmap
Execution Plan
February
Site visit & initial capture
Feb / Mar
Interviews, scripting, and recordings
April
Designing interactives and data visualizations
May
Final assembly and submission
Execution Plan & Challenges
Equipment
Camera, tripod, mic, Adobe Creative Cloud.
Key Sources
Professor Kevin Mitchell, Omar Darwish, and personal family interviews.
Challenges
Overcoming a personal knowledge gap and ensuring cultural accuracy in every detail.
Solutions
Deep research and continuous verification with expert sources throughout the process.
- emirati-heritage
- sharjah-history
- bait-al-naboodah
- cultural-preservation
- journalism-pitch
- traditional-architecture
- pearling-history