The National Library and Archives organizes a media forum on the sidelines of the 55th Edition of the Cairo International Book Fair

The National Library and Archives held a media forum during the Cairo International Book Fair 2024 to introduce its new corporate brand and highlight its key projects and initiatives, its efforts to establish the national library to preserve the UAE cultural heritage, and to launch the Encyclopaedia of UAE History project and the recently published Al Maqta quarterly magazine. The NLA invited media representatives to be its development partners through its upcoming stage, and to visit and provide press-coverage of the UAE participating booths in the Cairo International Book Fair.
H.E. Abdullah Majed Al Ali, Director-General of the NLA, welcomed the media representatives and said: “It is a great pleasure and honour to welcome you all as we celebrate the 55th Edition of the Cairo International Book Fair, which is a major cultural event in which the NLA always keenly seeks to participate.” H.E. added: “We fully recognize and appreciate the media’s crucial role, being a key tool in public education, awareness and entertainment, a role which we proudly share in our pursuit of enriching knowledge societies.”
H.E. also mentioned that the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan had established the National Library and Archives in 1968 with the aim of documenting the establishment and development of the UAE state, and since then it has spared no effort to preserve the glorious history and ancient cultural heritage of the UAE.
Following the National Library and the National Archives merger, our efforts were directed towards establishing an advanced national library that matches and keeps abreast with the world’s largest libraries, to preserve the UAE national heritage and to significantly contribute to the cultural and knowledge production. In this context, we launched, a few weeks ago, the Encyclopaedia of UAE history project, which serves as a valuable, authentic, reliable, and documented source and reference enriching both Arab and international libraries. Moreover, in the beginning of this year, we unveiled the National Library and Archives’ new corporate brand, which reflected the power and potential of all forms of communication, as well as our deep and keen interest in the glorious history of the UAE.
H.E. concluded his speech by stressing the NLA’s great interest in its annual participation in the Cairo International Book Fair, as one of the most prestigious and renowned book Fairs in the Arab world, which H.E. considers a valuable opportunity to strengthen relations with the various cultural institutions in Egypt which has always been widely recognized as the hub of culture and knowledge.
Hassan Al Shemeili, Head of General media and Diplomatic Affairs at the UAE Embassy in Cairo, emphasized that the UAE’s rich cultural heritage is reflected in the deep-rooted values instilled in its people over the years.
Al Shemeili added that the UAE’s wise leadership has, since its establishment by the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, attached great interest and importance to the UAE cultural heritage. These interests and relentless efforts continued and developed during the reign of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, given the great significance, and importance of this heritage in raising public awareness, and disseminating knowledge among its people and in preserving the UAE national identity and societal solidarity.
He also stated that despite the UAE’s keen pursuit to realize and achieve modernity, development, and technologic advancement, it has never forgotten its ancient cultural heritage and authentic deep-rooted customs and traditions. The UAE has successfully achieved an excellent balance between the old and the new, blending authenticity and modernity, since it believes that cultural heritage reflects the national identity, and history of any nation, and paves the way to promoting the values of tolerance and coexistence among the various world people.
In the context of promoting this cultural heritage and introducing the UAE ancient rich history and prosperous present, many Emirati cultural institutions, at the forefront of which is the NLA, annually participates in the Cairo International Book Fair events. The NLA’s participation in the 55th Edition of this significant cultural forum and Hub comes in line with its efforts and keen interest to familiarize the book fair visitors with its great role in documenting the UAE and Gulf region’s history, to introduce its distinguished cultural production and publications, and strengthen cooperation ties with various cultural institutions in Egypt.
Al Shemeili stressed that the effective participation of Emirati institutions in the Cairo International Book Fair reflects the close and friendly relationship between the UAE and the Arab Republic of Egypt in all fields, including the outstanding cultural relations and close cooperation between the two sisterly countries’ cultural institutions.
He also invited the book fair visitors to visit the Emirati institutions’ booths and platforms to explore their distinguished cultural production and benefit from the Fair’s different activities.