Introduction
Museums are a reliable source of information for researchers , and a good entertainer for teaching children history and other topics . They are the main link for past , present and future ( ICOM 2007 ). As defined by the International Community of Museums ( ICOM ) ( 2007 ): “ A museum is a non-profit , permanent institution in the service of society and its development , open to the public , which acquires , conserves , researches , communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education , study and enjoyment .”
This study is discussing the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) museums ’ indoor environments and their effect on human health , comfort , performance and productivity by investigating three main controlling factors in the museum environments ; artifacts , visitors , and personnel . An earlier stage of this study was published in 2014 , discussing the UAE Museum ’ s Indoor Environmental Quality ( IEQ ) from the visitors ’ perception , and the satisfaction level of visitors toward some of the museums in the UAE ( Askari and Altan 2014 ).
The main aspect that makes the museum environments different from any other environment is the presence of historical and original ancient items in them . These items should be kept in specific conditions with special care in order to stop their degradation process as well as preserving them . Museum personnel spend relatively long time inside the museum , depending on their position and duty , they may be in direct / indirect contact with artifacts . Evaluating the conditions of the environment they work in and how it affects them is essential point to be considered in the studies related to museum indoor environments .
This research paper is aiming to provide a comprehensive study that can be used as a reference guide for setting up new museums as well as for enhancing the IEQ in existing museums in the UAE , due to the growing interest in such cultural projects , specifically for Expo 2020 .
Methodology
The earlier stage of this study included site visits to existing museums in Sharjah and Dubai for establishing a general overview of the museum environments . Based on the site visits and the literature review , a questionnaire-based survey was conducted in three museums of Sharjah ( Sharjah Islamic Civilization , Sharjah Archaeology and the Heritage House in Sharjah ). The feedback from the visitors was gathered during the summer period of 2014 . The second stage of the research focused more on the museum personnel / staff . Interviews with different sections of Sharjah Museums ’ departments , particularly the personnel who are more likely to be exposed to the artifacts ; maintenance department , security staff , tour guides were included . In Dubai , the Architectural Heritage Department ( AHD ) from Dubai Municipality was included in the study in order to evaluate the working conditions in the laboratories as well . This stage of the study has been completed in 2015 .
Literature Review
The original and historical artifacts make the museum environment different from other environments ( Saraga et al . 2011 ). Certain standards are followed to setup suitable environmental conditions for preserving these artifacts . The exhibition halls and display cases are controlled and monitored continuously in the museums . These conditions sometimes may not be ideal for the
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