Peter Hellyer — journalist, historian and naturalist
A Family, a Lifetime, and a Shared Love of the Emirates
The Peter Hellyer Family Archive brings together photographs, maps, historical documents, antiques and treasured objects spanning generations of both sides of the family. Founded and curated by Perihan Hellyer, it combines inherited collections with her own acquisitions, celebrating the family's history, interests and connections to the UAE and beyond.
Founded and curated by Perihan Hellyer
"This archive brings together my father's legacy, our family's history and my own lifelong interest in collecting and understanding the past."— Perihan Hellyer, Founder and Curator
A Message from the Founder
My father, Peter Hellyer, devoted decades to documenting the UAE's history, heritage and natural environment. My mother, Laila, brought her own family history, interests and perspective to the childhood my brother, Hisham, and I shared.
I created this archive to honour them both and share a collection spanning several generations. It brings together material from my parents, my grandfathers on both sides and earlier ancestors, alongside pieces I have collected over many years.
My own interests centre on history, the UAE and particularly Abu Dhabi, where I grew up. This website offers a place to share the objects, memories and discoveries that interest me as I continue to develop the collection.
— Perihan Hellyer
A Life in Time
Our Mission
The archive spans several generations, bringing together photographs, letters, books, maps, historical documents, works of art and treasured objects from both sides of the family. It reflects a rich family history with connections to the UAE, Jersey, Egypt, Sudan and other parts of the world.
Alongside inherited collections are objects acquired over many years, reflecting a shared appreciation of history, culture, craftsmanship and the stories behind them. Some pieces offer glimpses into the lives of earlier generations, while others document the remarkable changes witnessed in the UAE over recent decades.
The archive is an ongoing project, with new discoveries and acquisitions continuing to enrich the collection as further material is researched, catalogued and preserved for future generations.
What You Will Find Here
Highlights
The Archive
A 1982 GEOprojects city map from Perihan's personal collection, alongside Peter's book Abu Dhabi: Garden City of the Gulf, published by Motivate, offers two perspectives on the capital and its development.
Read more →Discover the UAE
Explore the surveys, discoveries and research Peter helped support and coordinate, including the work of the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey and its specialist teams.
Read more →Tribulus
How a small natural history journal founded in 1991 became one of the UAE's most important record of native flora, fauna and environmental change — and Peter's decades as its editor.
Read more →