National Library and Archives

On the sidelines of the 56th edition of “Cairo International Book Fair”
The National Library and Archives Organizes a Specialized Seminar on the Concept of Archives’, Their Development, and Their Role in Supporting Development and Scientific Research.

The National Library and Archives (NLA), as part of its comprehensive program at the current edition of Cairo International Book Fair 2025, hosted a specialized seminar exploring the concept of archives, their development, and their critical role in supporting development and scientific research. The seminar shed light on the NLA pioneering efforts in enriching knowledge and advancing scientific research amidst the era of informational openness and technological innovation. Emphasizing the NLA’s experience the seminar highlighted that archives serve as the memory of nations and invaluable repositories of information, ensuring the continuity of knowledge transfer across generations. Archives were recognized as an indispensable resource for fostering development and advancing scientific research.

The seminar featured the participation of His Excellency Abdulla Majed Al Ali, Director General of the National Library and Archives, and Mr. Freed Zahran, Chairman of the Egyptian Publishers Association.

The discussions emphasized the pivotal role of Archives in promoting national identity and supporting sustainable development. The seminar highlighted that archives are fundamental tools for generating knowledge and driving progress. Investing in the preservation and advancement of archives was portrayed as an investment in the future of societies, as archives enable a deeper understanding of the past, the building of a better present, and the shaping of a more promising future. Furthermore, the seminar underscored that safeguarding archives is a national responsibility, vital for ensuring the continuity of development and enabling well-informed decision-making processes.

The seminar also highlighted that archives are not merely repositories of historical information but are essential resources that drive development and scientific research. It emphasized their role as dynamic tools for fostering progress and innovation. Among the most important types of archives discussed were: national archives, coporate archives, personal archives, and digital archives, and others.

The seminar emphasized that archives serve as a cornerstone for scientific research, providing a reliable source of accurate information. With the advancement of technology, archives have transformed to include diverse digital formats such as electronic documents, images, audio and video recordings, and extensive databases. The traditional notion of “place” has expanded beyond physical storage spaces and shelves to incorporate cloud storage systems and digital platforms, facilitating seamless remote access to documents.

The seminar also highlighted that technology has become an essential partner for archives in achieving their goals. It has made access to archives easier and faster. Digital archives help preserve old documents that may be at risk of damage or loss. Additionally, technology assists in data analysis, and advanced search tools, such as artificial intelligence, can now analyze documents and search for connections between them more quickly and accurately.

The seminar showcased the role of the National Library and Archives as a model for leveraging archives to support scientific research and development. It offers a comprehensive digital platform that grants researchers access to valuable historical documents and manuscripts, along with studies and well-documented reports on the history of the UAE and the Gulf region. This initiative enriches academic knowledge, aids students and researchers, and fosters historical research through the organization of scientific conferences, such as the Emirates International Oral History Conference, which plays a vital role in documenting unwritten historical narratives. In the field of development, the National Library and Archives promotes the national identity by documenting Emirati heritage, and preserving local culture, and this contributes to enhancing national belonging.

The seminar also emphasized the role of archives in international cooperation. It participates in international initiatives, organizes cultural fairs, exhibitions and events, and offers additional services such as documenting the local and international newspapers and magazines that cover the history of the UAE, as well as digitizing the local and international archives’ documents, ensuring their sustainability and ease of access. The seminar showed that the National Library and Archives places great importance on private archives.

The National Library and Archives Hosts a Media Forum on the sidelines of the Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF) 2025

In keeping with its annual tradition, the National Library and Archives (NLA) held a forum for media professionals alongside the 56th Cairo International Book Fair. The event aimed to highlighting the NLA’s key cultural and developmental initiatives, along with its significant contribution to the cultural and intellectual landscape among creators and to the enrichment of knowledge societies.
The forum saw the participation of His Excellency Mohamed Ahmed Al-Murr, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Library and Archives, along with various newspaper editors, editors-in-chief from Egyptian media outlets, and numerous media professionals.
His Excellency Abdulla Majed Al Ali, Director General of the National Library and Archives, inaugurated the forum with a speech emphasizing the significance of the Cairo International Book Fair. He extended congratulations to the sisterly Republic of Egypt for its remarkable success in organizing this prominent annual cultural event, which stands as one of the largest book fairs in the Middle East. He underscored that the NLA’s participation in CIBF 2025 reflects the strong ties between the United Arab Emirates and the Arab Republic of Egypt. These relations, nurtured by the wise leaderships and the peoples of both nations, continue to evolve, bolstered by new avenues of cooperation that foster prosperity and development for both countries.

His Excellency highlighted the significant advancements witnessed by the National Library and Archives at this stage, noting its emergence as a leading institution in the creation of serious and impactful cultural content. This progress is evident in the NLA’s influential role within the cultural landscape, serving as a hub of cultural dissemination that enhances libraries through its specialized publications, which provide documented and precise information. Additionally, the NLA organizes a variety of cultural events both within and beyond the borders of the United Arab Emirates, while also demonstrating a strong commitment to safeguarding the nation’s documentary heritage. His Excellency emphasized that concurrently, the National Library is focused on expanding its diverse cultural collection and ensuring its accessibility. He asserted that the overall cultural activity is undergoing a significant qualitative transformation, characterized by the integration of artificial intelligence and its applications, which will facilitate long-term preservation, digitization, and content availability, with the overarching aim of leveraging AI across all sectors.
His Excellency commended the vital role of media professionals and their significant contributions to the renaissance and advancement of the national development framework. He emphasized their role in fostering positive values, envisioning the future, cultivating generational culture, and reinforcing national identity. He expressed high regard for their constructive efforts and encouraged them to highlight the experiences of the National Library and Archives in the United Arab Emirates, which is dedicated to preserving heritage and history while promoting a culture that enriches, inspires, and empowers knowledge societies.
The forum took place at the Intercontinental City Stars Hotel in Cairo. It was attended by a large number of Egyptian media professionals, the National Library and Archives team participating in the activities of the Book Fair, representatives from the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Egypt, along with distinguished writers and intellectuals.

The National Library and Archives is actively involved in the Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF) 2025, with a comprehensive schedule of seminars, cultural gatherings, and specialized events.

The National Library and Archives commenced its participation in the 56th Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF) with the event’s opening. The NLA is showcasing the milestones in its journey as it works to enrich knowledge societies and improves its services being an institution dedicated to documentation and archiving and a cultural edifice that launches publications documenting the history and heritage of the UAE and the Arabian Gulf region. Additionally, the NLA is hosting a large number of cultural events featuring prominent authors and intellectuals.
The National Library and Archives is committed to participating annually in the Cairo International Book Fair, a major cultural platform that introduces its visitors to the NLA’s cultural and intellectual production. This event serves as chance to strengthen relations with cultural and archival institutions.
At the opening ceremony, His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno, Egyptian Minister of Culture, visited the National Library and Archives’ booth. He was received by His Excellency author Mohammed Ahmed Al-Murr, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Library and Archives, and His Excellency Abdullah Majed Al Ali, Director General. They presented His Excellency with two NLA publications: “Zayed’s Journey in Pictures” and “Um Kulthum in Abu Dhabi”. His Excellency received a brief overview on Zayed’s Journey in Pictures, which contains over 600 rare photos highlighting milestones in Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s life, from his assumption of power in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to the establishment of the United Arab Emirates.
Regarding this participation, His Excellency Abdullah Majed Al Ali, Director General, remarked: “Our annual participation in the Cairo Book Fair is of great significance to us, since it serves as a worldwide cultural platform and a venue for civilizational and intellectual exchange. We are committed to establishing our presence in the regional and global cultural and literary arenas to showcase the contributions of the National Library and Archives to the cultural movement. This effort continues to inspire and enrich knowledge societies, making our participation in the Cairo International Book Fair one of our top priorities.”
He continued: “This participation lays the groundwork for reinforcing cultural ties and knowledge sharing with Egyptian cultural and archival institutions, given that their objectives align closely with ours. It is essential to acknowledge that the NLA has evolved beyond being solely a keeper of historical documents or a guardian of national memory; it has also become an integral player among those who shape culture.”
His Excellency highlighted that the NLA’s participation in the CIBF 2025 features a dynamic agenda that includes various cultural seminars and professional gatherings, specialized workshops, and activities aligned with its interests. The NLA’s booth showcases historical documents and films featuring the profound and brotherly ties between the United Arab Emirates and the Arab Republic of Egypt. He emphasized that the booth embodies the National Library and Archives’ strategy for the period leading up to 2032, reflecting its commitment to preserving documentary heritage and identifying future trends across various domains.