Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed Al Nahyan is home to a collection of written records and documentaries that detail the life and achievements of Sheikh Suroor bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, a close associate of the late Founder and Builder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. In fact, Sheikh Suroor gained Sheikh Zayed’s trust and respect from the moment he took over the reins of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The Sheikh Suroor bin Mohamed Al Nahyan Hall provides a significant glimpse into the history of the United Arab Emirates, showcasing the remarkable contributions of one of its distinguished figures whose legacy endures. It features a detailed account of Sheikh Suroor’s life and his pivotal roles from 1966 to 2003, along with a selection of documentaries on large format displays highlighting his comradeship with Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan during the UAE’s renaissance, development and success under his wise leadership. Additionally, the hall exhibits some of Sheikh Suroor’s personal belongings.

At the Sheikh Zayed Hall which beams with the glories of the past and showcases the boom of the present

The National Library and Archives documents the story of a homeland

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Hall at the National Library and Archives (NLA) is an innovative museum experience that embraces

the past, documents the present, and envisions the future. For that purpose, the latest innovative technologies and display

methods are utilized to offer visitors a knowledge capsule which enhances belonging to the homeland and loyalty to its wise

leadership and consolidates the national identity in the hearts of generations. It dazzles its visitors with the progress,

development and prosperity achieved by the UAE in record time.

At the entrance of Sheikh Zayed Hall

Close to the main entrance of the National Library and Archives, a large, perforated metal wall art, featuring Qasr Al-Watan,

Qasr Al-Hosn, Al-Jahili Fort, and Al-Bidiyah Mosque, fascinates visitors. It is fixed at the entrance of the Sheikh Zayed bin

Sultan Hall, where there are also large screens displaying important images taken from the memory of the nation. This hall

presents the story of the UAE’s past and its heritage, records important milestones in its rapidly developing present, and

envisions aspects of the UAE’s future as it moves towards its centenary confidently and competently. Taking advantage of

modern and traditional exhibition techniques all, the Hall appears like a museum which tells the people’s story and the

homeland glories. Its holding include items of specialized historical nature. First, visitors view the UAE’s two main traditional

occupation: fishing and Pearl diving. In this corner, a fishing boat and a photo of a fisherman preparing his fishing nets are

seen, and the sounds of the waves and seabirds are heard. There are also some antiquities including a pearl balance, a

pearl scoop and some pearl beads.

The museum deals with historical eras starting from the prehistoric era through to the Islamic era. This section includes

collections from the Bronze Age. It also has a large screen showing a one-and-a-half-minute documentary about some

archaeological sites in the Emirates. Visitors may listen to the accompanying audio content through the state-of-the-art

Sound Shower directional speaker technology.

Moving to modern history, visitors will explore the eras of the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British presence, respectively.

They have the opportunity to view historical documents related to each of the aforementioned eras on wall display, some

collections and models of ships for each era.

The hall showcases the oldest six rare books, namely Description of the Arabian Peninsula, Arabic documents on Portuguese

history, The Journey of Jan Huygen van Linschoten, The Arabian Peninsula: The Cradle of Islam, and History of India.

Through the touch technology, visitors can review the contents of each book on small screens next to the book display

cabinets.

The Union and Prosperity Era:

The Union Era begins after the end of the British presence. In this section, the NLA’s Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Hall displays

original historical documents, and a 150-second documentary featuring important milestones during the time leading up to

the establishment and declaration of the Union. Visitors can hear the audio content taking advantage of the Sound Shower

Speaker technology. In this section, a pen from the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s collections and the typewriter

with which the UAE constitution was written are on display.

Loyalty and appreciation:

The Picture of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the pictures of the other founding fathers are displayed in the

hall as the National Library and Archives believes in the importance of keeping their memory alive in the hearts of

generations. This confirms the NLA’s appreciation of their efforts in building the Union with vigour and determination and

affirms the significance of their approach and visions in shaping the present.

The hall displays an interactive book entitled Zayed the Builder and the Founder 1936-2002. Visitors can browse through the

book electronically, and by touching the pictures, they can access historical information and captions.

On a set of large LED wall displays, visitors can view the six most prominent achievements made after the establishment of

the union. Each screen is connected to a circle, and once a visitor stands inside it, the opposite screen displays an image of

an achievement with relevant brief information. Visitors are impressed by this innovative medium, and those who are

interested in learning stop to read the significant information. The screens also display information about schools,

universities, museums, Mars and others.

The hall also showcases several honours and awards which the late Founder and Builder received from world leaders as well

as scientific, civil and international bodies. His humanitarian giving extended to all nations and societies without exception,

regardless of color, race, and beliefs. Additionally, the hall sheds light on his great role in the renaissance of the United Arab

Emirates, and his contribution in building global development and peace.

Let’s Talk About the Seven Emirates:

In the middle of the hall is a special corner dedicated to the seven emirates. A screen is assigned to each emirate, and

visitors can watch and listen through a special headset to historical and touristic information about it and its most prominent

features. Being the largest of the Emirates, Abu Dhabi is assigned a large interactive screen, which displays its map with six

icons featuring its most important landmarks: Qasr Al-Hosn, Muraijib Fort, Al-Jahili Fort, Al-Muwaiji Fort, Al-Murabaa, and

Sheikh Zayed Mosque. By placing the icon on the map, the information is transformed into one of the six landmarks. Visitors

can listen to introductory video clips about Abu Dhabi or watch a one-and-a-half-minute documentary about its historical

and touristic details.

State-of-the-art technologies and innovative presentation techniques

The Sheikh Zayed Hall at the National Library and Archives is loaded with virtual reality (VR); it grants its visitors the

opportunity to let their imagination soar to view the future of the Emirates in 2071. Sitting on an interactive seat and using

binoculars, visitors can view what the Emirates will be like in its centennial anniversary, as it moves confidently towards

leadership.

In the corner of Augmented Reality (AR), visitors can take a look at a falcon, a camel and an astronaut, and students can

receive general questions about the United Arab Emirates. The AR technology involves the integration of digital information

with the user’s environment in real time to enhance one’s experience. Visitors can also capture photos of themselves on the

screen with Emirati heritage elements or with the astronaut.

The National Library and Archives’ Corner:

The hall showcases the oldest television cameras, microfilm preservation techniques, and the most important oral history

interviews conducted by the Oral History and Genealogical Studies Section to document the UAE’s written history and

complement it with the history drawn from the memory of senior citizen narrators.

The hall also displays the most important commemorative shields, postal stamps, and coins of the National Library and

Archives. It also shows the NLA’s most important exhibitions and conferences, the most important visits and the most

prominent personalities it received, primarily the visits of the Founder and Builder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan – may

God rest his soul, who had great interest in this national edifice.

The hall has three large screens with three icons enlightening generations about the Emirati heritage. One of these screens

provides information about Al-Nahma, a traditional sea shanty which seafarers sing while working aboard sailing vessels.

Another screen gives information about Al-Mahawa, a lullaby with which a mother used to lull her newborn. The third

screen displays the dance of Al-Ayyala, an authentic Emirati folk art that sees male performers singing and moving to a

steady rhythm of drums.

Visitors can get some gifts from the Souvenirs Corner at the end of their visit to the hall.

This auditorium is equipped with state-of-the-art technical equipment and accommodates more than

600 people. It is suitable for organizing conferences, seminars and lectures, and has the facilities for

simultaneous interpretation in five languages and an electronic wireless voting system.

This is a virtual reality theatre that is an interactive 3-D environment designed with software that mix

fiction with reality. In the theatre, documentary films about the United Arab Emirates are displayed

using 3-D technology. It has a sophisticated audio-visual system that creates a virtual atmosphere

simulating the UAE’s past and development for the audiences. The documentary films displayed in

this theatre have a notable impact on visitors, especially students and kids influenced by

photographs as they feel that they are  part or extension of them. The theatre is suitable for smaller

meetings.

The National Library and Archives has a number of multi-purpose halls including: Halls for administrative meetings,

classrooms, each accommodates 42 people, a Lecture Hall that accommodates 39 people and e-Technical Training Room

furnished with 12 computers.

These halls meet the National Library and Archives’ needs to qualify its staff with training courses, symposiums and

specialized scientific lectures. The halls are available for official meetings and receiving the National Library and Archives’

visitors who come to benefit from its experience in preserving the Nation’s memory.