Since its inauguration in December 2010, the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Hall at the National Archives headquarters in Abu Dhabi has received thousands of visitors from all over the UAE and abroad. Prosperous built by the late - God willing - Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his brothers, the founding fathers and the people of the Emirates who gathered around them.


The Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Hall in the National Archives is a window through which the visitor looks at aspects of the history of the Emirates, and looks at ancient historical pages. The hall presents a comprehensive panorama of the nation's memory that the National Archives works to collect and preserve, and this is what made it the focus of attention for researchers, academics and visiting official delegations from inside and outside the country. The Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Hall is characterized by its historical written documents, old geographical maps, rare photographs, and documentaries that monitor the establishment, growth and prosperity of the United Arab Emirates under its wise leadership. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Hall was established to be a historical museum that tells, with documented historical information, the past of the Emirates region more than five hundred years ago. This is evident in the Portuguese Contino map, which dates back to 1502 AD, and is the first map of the Gulf region. The Sheikh Zayed Hall is characterized by the fact that it displays its holdings of historical documents according to a historical sequence, and according to the periods that the history of the Emirates passed through, to provide a comprehensive picture of the history of the Emirates in its various stages, and to remain a witness to what the founding fathers presented, led by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the founding fathers. For the sake of the country's unity, progress and prosperity, and in this regard, the hall includes the documents related to the nine-party union, the bilateral union between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the seven-party union and the major events that coincided with this stage that culminated in the signing of the establishment of the union on December 2, 1971 AD.


In the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Hall, the documents related to the founding leader are divided into local documents, Gulf documents, Arab documents, and international documents. They provide the visitor with an introduction to aspects of Sheikh Zayed's activities since he assumed power as the representative of the Ruler of Abu Dhabi in Al Ain in 1946 AD, until the date of his departure in 2004 AD. The Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Hall includes a number of historical documents of great strategic importance, such as: a collection of historical documents related to the three Emirati islands: Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, and historical documents that monitor the correspondence of the sheikhs and rulers of these islands and what is related to the activities of their residents of the Emirates, Among the important historical documents that the hall also contains is the British document that dates the maritime agreement between Arab tribes in the Trucial States and Britain, and dates back to the year 1820 AD, and stipulates that no one shall be exposed to the other in the Gulf. Another important historical document is a document signed by Sheikh Shakhbout bin Sultan when he was Ruler of Abu Dhabi with the rulers of the Trucial States in 1965 regarding a unified Gulf currency, and this document has implications that refer to the early irredentist aspirations of the residents of the region.

The valuable historical documents contained in the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Hall are the correspondences that took place between the rulers of the Trucial States and the British accredited at the time. The National Archives made great efforts to obtain copies of these documents that present the history of the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf region to researchers, scholars and those interested in the history and heritage of the Emirates. In the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Hall, the visitor will find documents that provide details of the flag of the United Arab Emirates, its first ministerial formation, and its accession to the United Nations. These documents, in their entirety, have resulted in the National Archives issuing a number of historical books that document the history of the Emirates for generations, such as The book (Qasr al-Hosn), the book (Zayed from Challenge to Union), the book (Zayed, a man who built a nation)... and others.


The Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Hall contains a large number of heritage holdings represented by models of ships dating back to the Portuguese, Dutch and British eras, which played a major role in global and Gulf trade. In the hall are models of old light weapons, some of which date back to the early nineteenth century. It contains a number of awards and honors that the founding leader, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, received during his leadership of the process of construction, growth and prosperity. The Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Hall is filled with a number of rare historical books due to their depletion or because of their old publication. There is also a corner for the National Archives' publications. The Knowledge Cart, which presents historical documentaries, has recently been added to its holdings. The Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Hall ends with an exhibition that includes some holdings and pictures belonging to the Canadian nurse Gertrude Dyck, known as Dr. Latifa, who worked at the Oasis Hospital "Kindy" in Al Ain since 1962. These holdings were presented by Dr. Latifa's family to the National Archives after her departure in October 2009. It presents the contents of Dr. Latifa's exhibition is an important stage in the history of Abu Dhabi and the interest of its leaders in the health sector.


Due to the high demand for Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Hall, the National Archives decided to open the hall to the public, including visitors, researchers, academics and students, in the morning and evening periods, from eight in the morning until eight in the evening, from June

The National Archives organizes a “Memory of the Nation” national competition at Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival

The UAE National Archives has organized a weekly competition entitled “The Memory of the Nation in a Photo” and “A Question on the Memory of the Nation” on its Instagram account. The competition, which was held at the “Memory of the Nation” pavilion at Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival, took place at the beginning of the Year of Zayed 2018 and continued until the final day of the festival at the end of January.  

The competition was organized in two stages. The first involved taking photographs at the “Memory of the Nation” exhibition, while the second featured an educational question inspired by the “Memory of the Nation” exhibition. Therefore, the competition required participants to visit the exhibition and follow the NA Instagram account. The NA has designated a number of invaluable prizes for the winners in the competition stages.

The national competition organized by the NA aimed at encouraging the public at Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival to visit the “Memory of the Nation” exhibition, the focal point of the festival, and take a look at its acquisitions, which record the UAE’s past and present with documents, photographs and documentary films. It also provided visitors with reliable information about the efforts made by the founding fathers, particularly Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in the formation of the UAE and in achieving UAE prosperity and development for the benefit of its citizens and residents. The competition sought to acquaint visitors with the UAE history, which is the witness that testifies to its monumental growth and development. The competition questions were inspired by the UAE’s history and heritage and the history of the founding leader Sheikh Zayed who shaped the momentous events leading up to the foundation of the UAE.

The relevant department at the NA has received a large number of photographs. There were two winning photographs taken at the “Memory of the Nation” exhibition, which were of artistic and aesthetic value.

The National Archives participates in “Our Winter is more delightful with reading” Festival

The National Archives continues its participation through reading workshops at “Our Winter is more delightful with reading” festival, which was organized by the Ministry of Education as part of National Policy Initiatives for Reading.

The National Archives aims to enhance the role of the Ministry of Education in instilling modern educational principles among students, by emphasizing the importance of reading and linking that to the history of UAE.

The NA’s team provided 32 reading workshops for visitors of the festival in Dalma Mall in Abu Dhabi. The reading workshops focused on the NA’s publications relevant to the Year of Zayed, such as (Zayed, From Challenges to Union), and highlighted aspects of Zayed’s leadership, humanitarian and international character.

For further suspension and excitement, the NA employed exciting presentation means, such as cartoon figures (Hamad, Hessa and the grandfather). Participants were acquainted with the NA, its activities, duties and role in preserving the memory of the nation. Gifts were distributed to participating students and visitors of Dalma Mall. The reading workshops informed participating students of Sheikh Zayed’s values, qualities and aspects of his life in addition to his achievements in building schools, providing education and creating the pleasant life which the UAE enjoys today. It is worth noting that the book (Zayed, From Challenges to Union) is about his birth, education and upbringing as well as his great efforts to establish the Union. It also talks about how he will remain as a symbol of courage and sacrifice in the memory and hearts of future generations.

In its “Memory of the Nation” exhibition, the National Archives reviews, through documentary films, past and present of the UAE. 

Through its participation in Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival 2017, the National Archives presents, in its “Memory of the Nation” exhibition, a series of documentary films on UAE’s history, starting from the Ancient History of the Emirates, to the Trucial States and Pre-Union era up to the present time, in which the UAE enjoys prosperity and abundance under the leadership of H. H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. The exhibition displays a documentary film related to the year 1918, in which the Founding Leader, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was born, and sheds lights on the establishment of the Union and the development witnessed in the UAE during his reign. The series of the documentary films end up with a special film about the demise of the “Wiseman” of the Arabs.

In celebration of the centennial anniversary of Sheikh Zayed’s birth, the “Memory of the Nation” exhibition presents two documentary films. The first film is about the year 1918 in which Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan was born, documenting his great role in the establishment and development of the UAE, as well as his local and international achievements. The second film is about his demise. The other two documentary films are about the Union and development, covering the major role played by Sheikh Zayed, alongside with the founding fathers, in establishing the Union and developing the UAE. The two films point out that the Union was the beginning of the UAE’s real development in all fields.  The development was a natural outcome of considerable efforts by the Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, combined with those of his brothers, Rulers of the Emirates. Based on Sheikh Zayed’s strong determination, the march set off and the comprehensive development took place in all sectors of society. As a result, the UAE’s experience and achievements have become an example to be followed. The documentary film about the demise of Sheikh Zayed presents his achievements, his efforts in building the UAE and his contributions to the UAE, the Arab world and the world as a whole, which will commemorate him as a leader and an icon over time.

It is worth mentioning that the first documentary film is about history and civilization of the UAE and neighboring areas. Since the dawn of history, God has blessed this area with great civilization and it has remained, through ages, a land of civilizations. For example, the civilization of Umm Al Nar in Abu Dhabi goes back 5000 years. The Emirates also kept interacting with neighboring civilizations so there was mutual influence between them. The artifacts abundant in UAE museums prove this interaction and influence.

The National Archives enriches children’s knowledge of UAE history at the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival

The Education Corner at the Memory of the Nation exhibit at the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival has made its primary focus the ideas and principles of the late founding leader Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The purpose of the Education Corner is to help develop within children an understanding of care for the environment, an interest in science and its place in the future, and a sense of patriotism. Sheikh Zayed felt that one of the ways that learning can be achieved is through fun and entertainment, now including exciting new topics derived from the guidance of our national leadership: artificial intelligence, journey to planet Mars and clean energy. 

The Education Corner also helps children become aware of environmental pollution and its causes, ways to reduce harmful emissions to the environment, and renewable sources of energy. On the practical side, children can make use of Knowledge Robots which they assemble and run by solar energy, under the supervision of specialists, employing computers mounted on tables distributed throughout the Education Corner. Once children have completed assembly of the robots, they test them in a zone dedicated to that purpose.

Through its Memory of the Nation exhibit, the National Archives will also present visitors with a new game known as Collective Panels. The game is part of the educational outreach initiative and will be piloted for the first time at the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival in January, 2018. The game carries a national theme, focusing on the biography of Sheikh Zayed and his many achievements. 

The National Archives was inspired by the urban design of the "Memory of the Nation" pavilion, in which it is participating in the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival 2017, from the "Al Maqtaa Fort" in Abu Dhabi, based on its being a historical landmark that summarizes the memory of the place, its culture, its architectural style and its historical depth, and is known as Abu Dhabi's gate and its protection center. the first.

"Memory of the Nation" at the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival 2017 combines form and content

The National Archives is inspired by the design of the Memory of the Nation exhibition from Al-Muqta`a Fort and Tower

The National Archives was inspired by the urban design of the "Memory of the Nation" pavilion, in which it is participating in the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival 2017, from the "Al Maqtaa Fort" in Abu Dhabi, based on its being a historical landmark that summarizes the memory of the place, its culture, its architectural style and its historical depth, and is known as Abu Dhabi's gate and its protection center. the first.

The “Memory of the Nation” pavilion at the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival attracts dignitaries from inside and outside the country, and a large number of visitors, which is the main pillar of the festival.

The National Archives’ interest in placing a copy of Al Maqtaa Fort in the festival comes to attract visitors based on its keenness to give the Memory of the Nation exhibition – amidst this heritage and cultural event – a historical identity, and at the same time sheds light on Al Maqtaa Fort and its historical status, and to familiarize those coming to the festival from all over the world with this. The magnificent urban edifice, which enjoys its heritage, architectural and cultural value, which made it a cultural and historical landmark and a destination for tourists and those wishing to learn about the features of the past of the city of Abu Dhabi, especially that it was built near the fort, the Al Maqtaa Tower, and its construction coincided with the construction of the Al Hosn Palace; That is, around the year 1793 AD, and a control center was built to be used to monitor any hostile movement at that time, and in anticipation of facing any danger.

Al Maqtaa Tower belongs to the military art, and it constitutes an important element in the individual defensive buildings.

The importance of the "Al Maqtaa Fort" lies in the fact that it was built in the first piece of land through which those coming from Al Ain or from the northern emirates pass to enter Abu Dhabi Island.

And since some of the goals of establishing the National Archives were to collect and document everything related to the history and heritage of the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf region, its inspiration from the vocabulary of heritage in its events and activities reinforces this goal and highlights aspects of the ancient history of which the UAE is proud. Especially since Al Maqtaa Fort is still standing tall in a scene that tells of an important stage that witnessed many important events in the history of Abu Dhabi, and this fort has remained the focus of attention of the rulers of Abu Dhabi throughout the ages.

It is worth noting that the National Archives used to take inspiration from archaeological sites of great importance in the history of the country and the biographies of its senior leaders and men to design the headquarters of the “Memory of the Nation” pavilion at the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival in Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi. Fort Al Muwaiji in Al Ain.

The National Archives has joined with NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) and six major universities to digitize its holdings of historic Arabic language materials to Arabic Collections Online (ACO), an Arabic digital library freely available to the public at dlib.nyu.edu/aco.

NYU Abu Dhabi and National Archives collaborate to create an online public library of historic Arabic-language materials



-    Arabic Collections Online to offer 20,000 digitized historic books in Arabic for global users



Abu Dhabi, November 11, 2017: The National Archives has joined with NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) and six major universities to digitize its holdings of historic Arabic language materials to Arabic Collections Online (ACO), an Arabic digital library freely available to the public at dlib.nyu.edu/aco.

ACO, an open-access initiative sponsored by NYUAD, has set a goal of reaching 20,000 digitized Arabic books provided free of cost to a global audience.  ACO is sponsored by NYUAD in partnership with Columbia, Cornell, Princeton, American University in Beirut, American University in Cairo, and, now, the National Archives, who will support with the digitization of the materials.

Using state-of-the-art digitization techniques, ACO is preserving thousands of volumes from their partners’ distinguished library collections to provide an online repository of Arabic-language material for the global community. Seeking to preserve Arabic-language resources for future generations, topics covered on ACO range from fiction, poetry, literature, criticism, and culture to society, economics, history, law, biographies, and Islamic studies.



“Many of the aging books in existing library collections are irreplaceable once they succumb to deterioration over time. One such document available through ACO is Aḥādīth al-ṣabāḥ fī al-midhyā’. Published in 1947 and featuring the religious teachings of Sheikh Maḥmūd Shaltūt, the late Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the original book was never reprinted and now exists only in a few libraries,” said Justin Parrott, Librarian for Acquisitions and Middle East Studies at NYUAD.

Director-General of the National Archives Dr. Abdulla Alraisi, noted that NYU Abu Dhabi is partnering with the National Archives on two fronts. The first is the contribution of the institution's books to the online repository of the archive. The second is supporting a five-year project with Arabic Collections Online in concert with the National Archives.

More than half of ACO’s user community reside in Arabic-speaking countries in the Middle East, including Iraq and Syria, two countries that have endured significant conflict and destruction of their libraries and heritage. Other researchers utilize ACO across Europe and North Africa, as well as Russia, Indonesia, South America, and Australia.



ACO is an ongoing initiative that continues to roll out upgrades to improve user interface and features, as well as adding thousands of new digitized books with the goal of reaching 20,000 volumes. Readers can view books in the online digital reader, or download them as high or low-resolution PDF files for off-line viewing at their convenience.



For more information and to access content, please visit the website at dlib.nyu.edu/aco



-Ends-



About NYU Abu Dhabi

NYU Abu Dhabi is the first comprehensive liberal arts and science campus in the Middle East to be operated abroad by a major American research university. NYU Abu Dhabi has integrated a highly-selective liberal arts, engineering and science curriculum with a world center for advanced research and scholarship enabling its students to succeed in an increasingly interdependent world and advance cooperation and progress on humanity’s shared challenges. NYU Abu Dhabi’s high-achieving students have come from 115 nations and speak over 115 languages. Together, NYU's campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai form the backbone of a unique global university, giving faculty and students opportunities to experience varied learning environments and immersion in other cultures at one or more of the numerous study-abroad sites NYU maintains on six continents.



About the National Archives

Upon directives of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, the National Archives was established in 1968 under the name of “Documents and Research Bureau”, and was affiliated with Al Diwan Al Amiri (Ruler’s Court). Its objectives were defined as collecting documents and information relating to the history and culture of the Arabian Peninsula in general and the United Arab Emirates in particular, from primary sources in Arab and foreign countries. It has been entrusted with the documentation and translation of these documents. In 1972, its name was changed to the Center for Documentation & Research (CDR).

The National Archives of the United Arab Emirates honored the supervisors and students who won the Young Historian Award in its seventh session. The winners of the Young Historian Award met at the headquarters of the National Archives. Awards and certificates of appreciation were distributed to them in the presence of a number of officials from the National Archives, the Ministry of Education, the Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi, and my mentors. activities.

The National Archives honors the winners of the Young Historian Award in its seventh session

The National Archives of the United Arab Emirates honored the supervisors and students who won the Young Historian Award in its seventh session. The winners of the Young Historian Award met at the headquarters of the National Archives. Awards and certificates of appreciation were distributed to them in the presence of a number of officials from the National Archives, the Ministry of Education, the Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi, and my mentors. activities.

Hamad Al-Hamiri, Director of the Research and Knowledge Services Department, confirmed that the Young Historian Award is a translation of the National Archives’ mission to preserve the documentary heritage and to promote the spirit of belonging and national identity. He expressed his happiness at the noble goals achieved by the award in enhancing the efficiency of scientific research and its mechanisms among students, and strengthening the relationship between generations. The Director of the Research and Knowledge Services Department considered the Young Historian Award one of the methods for discovering talents and creative energies among students, and thanked the members of the Young Historian Award Committee at the National Archives. The author is Dr. Aisha Belkhair, Ali Darwish Omran, and Fatima Al Mazrouei.

The prizes for their subject matter and distribution were as follows: In the field of economic history, the winners were: Al Hudaiba School for Secondary Education in Ras Al Khaimah Educational Zone, Zainab School for Basic and Secondary Education in Ras Al Khaimah Educational Zone and Al Falahiah School in Abu Dhabi.

In the field of social history, the winners were: Al Hudaiba School for Secondary Education in Ras Al Khaimah Educational Zone and Darwish Bin Karam School in Abu Dhabi.

In the field of geographical history, the winners were: Al Foah School for Basic Education in Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi School for Secondary Education and Al Hudaiba School for Secondary Education for Girls in Ras Al Khaimah Educational Zone.

Also this year, a new category was added to the list of awards for the young historian, which is the most promising category, as part of the National Archives’ keenness to develop student skills and raise the talented, promising young category to win this category: Al-Rowad School for Basic and Secondary Education, Al-Samha School, and Umm Al-Arab School. For basic and secondary education, Al-Ghazali School in Abu Dhabi, Al-Rowad School for Basic and Secondary Education, Al-Ittihad National Private School, Al-Taawun School for Basic Education, Al-Thaqafa School for Basic and Secondary Education, Maryam Bint Sultan School for Secondary Education in Al-Ain and Al-Maha Joint School for Basic Education in Abu Dhabi.

For their part, the winning students praised the role played by the National Archives in motivating students and encouraging them to be creative in national and scientific affairs.

It is worth noting that the National Archives launched the first round of the Young Historian Award in coordination with the Ministry of Education in the academic year 2009-2010.

The National Archives honors the creative and distinguished students in the Historians’ Club.



Awarding more than 500 creative figures and entities participating in the 4th edition The National Archives honored the prize winners of the 4th edition of the Students' Historians’ Club competition which targets grades 8 to 11 public and private school students in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

The Student Historians’ Club competition is adopted and sponsored by the NA in collaboration with its strategic partner, The Abu Dhabi Education Council. The competition comes in line with the NA’s endeavors to direct students’ potentials towards considered and addressed National and historical programs that contribute in developing the society, shaping and enhancing students’ characters, and instilling moral values and noble principles.



The NA meant to link the events of the 4th edition of the competition to national values emphasized by our wise leadership. This edition, in some of its topics, responded to the initiative of supporting the curricula by a moral education subject. However, its other topics were in line with the “2017 The Year of Giving” initiative. It also paid interest to the nation’s martyrs who sacrificed themselves to protect their homeland and accordingly became the best role-model for future generations. Furthermore, it also paid special interest to some of the beloved homeland’s landmarks and its ancient historical heritage.



At the onset of the ceremony, H.E. Majid Al Mehairi, the NA’s CEO, delivered a speech welcoming all participants and attendees and congratulating the winners. He pointed out that the participating projects constitute a source of happiness and pride, and reflect the students' creative potentials. He highly appreciated the Student Historian’s Club's national, community, cultural, artistic and literary year round activities, especially the impressive activities characterized by their humanitarian aspect that touches the hearts like the voluntary services, and visits to martyrs’ families and the injured Armed Forces heroic soldiers as well as their keen interest to plant the martyr tree in schools. Al Mehairi added that the NA’s interest in directing the energy of preparatory and secondary school students towards national programs contributes to instilling good citizenship principles in them, enhancing their sense of loyalty and belonging to the homeland and its wise leadership and establishing their national identity, through which the NA follows the wise leadership’s march, aspirations, and ambitions to build the human being on whom it focuses its interest, especially the youth whom we all agree are the wealth of the nation and the security for its future.

H.E. the Executive Director thanked ADEC, the strategic partner in this renewed progress and success achieved by the Student Historians’ Club. The Student Historians’ Club with its activities and events is a pioneering national project adopted and sponsored by the NA, and through which it managed to attract the attention of students at a very critical age to national causes and instill in them the founding fathers' values and the wise leadership's initiatives, with its moral qualities that contribute to the students national education for future generations. Definitely, the objectives the NA aims to achieve through this project, started to materialize in fact through the demonstrated creativity of students and their supervisors in this club's competition which only constitutes a small part of the club’s contributions and its national values instilled in the member students who were distinguished by their national and community activities.

The 4th edition of the historians’ club competition included a number of categories, first of which was the best historical model. Al Fahidi Fort in Dubai was selected due to its being the oldest building in Dubai, the second was the best oral history narrated story selected by students. The third was the best historical magazine and it was about the nation’s devoted martyrs. Finally, the fourth category was the best presentation in the framework of the supreme initiative aimed at supporting the school curricula through “Moral Education”.

The Student Historians’ Club competition has approved 93 projects from 49 schools. During the honoring ceremony of the 4th edition of the competition, more than 500 participating creative figures and entities were awarded. The categories included the winning students of the first, second and third ranks, the coordinators who were the supervising teachers, the winning schools of the first, second and third ranks and parents since a student cannot succeed and excel apart from his/her family.

In accordance with the directives of H.H. President of the UAE on designating the year 2017 as the year of giving, the recent edition of the historians’ club has honored prominent figures in the field of community, national and voluntary activities, which reflect the concepts and aspects of good citizenship and reinforce national values that enhance the sense of loyalty and belonging to the nation. These activities kept historians’ club active and busy all year round. The NA granted appreciation certificates to participants of this year’s competition.

The works submitted by the participants proved their loyalty and belonging to the nation, their pride of its identity, history and heritage, their keenness on preserving its values and culture, and their pride of the glories and great legacy of the founding leaders. This, in fact, made the content of the students’ national works consistent with the UAE Vision for 2021 and in line with Abu Dhabi Vision for 2030. They also reflect the outstanding educational system, high quality educational services delivered to UAE schools, and students’ belief in the national, behavioral, knowledge and community values, which characterized their participations in the club competition and the rest of its activities with a special touch that brought them close to the hearts of the society members of different segments.

It is worth mentioning that the fourth edition of the Students' Historians’ Club has listed the winning schools that achieved the first rank in each category as follows: As for public schools, Al Maha Girls School was the winner of the best model of “Al Fahidi Fort” while Al Foah Elementary School won an award for the best historical magazine entitled “The Nation’s Martyrs”. Omama Bint Al Harith Secondary School was the winner for the best presentation on the initiative of supporting curricula by “Moral Education”. Qatr Al Nada Secondary School won the best oral history narrated story, which tackled different aspects of life in the UAE in the past. As for private schools, ADNOC Schools for boys was awarded the first rank for the best model of “Al Fahidi Fort”, and ADNOC Schools for girls attained the first rank for the best historical magazine entitled “The Nation’s Martyrs”. Al Ittihad Girls School in Al Ain won the first rank for the best presentation on “Moral Education”, while Al-Ittihad Girls School in Abu Dhabi reached the first rank of the best “Oral History” narrated story on the life of the founding leader, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his charitable initiatives that came concurrently with 2017 initiative for The Year of Giving.



Ideal and model families were also among the prize categories as their efforts were apparently reflected through the excellence of their sons and daughters. In accordance with “2017 The Year of Giving” initiative, schools that excelled in community causes and voluntary activities were also awarded. These schools were Emirates National School for girls (Al Nahyan Campus in Abu Dhabi), United, and Al Baya elementary and secondary Schools, and Al Jahili Secondary School. The heads of both the hosting and organizing committees from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain And Dhafra branches were also honored at the NA and ADEC. The NA has appreciated the efforts of all students who participated this year in the Students' Historians’ Club competition. Mr. Farhan Al Marzooqi, Director of the NA Corporate and Community Outreach Department, granted appreciation certificates to all participants.



Two distinctive projects were presented in detail to the attendees and participants. The first on Al Ittihad School in Al Ain's moral education initiative, while the second relating to the oral history field entitled “The UAE Giving Approach” presented by Al Ittihad National Private School.

Participants from schools administrations, parents and students have all appreciated the role of the NA, as a main and essential partner, in the national education of all generations.

The National Archives receives more than 900 students from the Philippine School within a week



In the framework of the NA’s aim to educate foreign communities' school students resident in the UAE on the history and heritage of the UAE. More than 900 students from the Philippine School undertook several academic visits to the NA premises within one week.



The Philippine School had already organized similar visits to the NA last year, and upon realizing the benefits and positive impact of such visits on its students it repeated them again this year. The Bengali and Pakistani communities' schools and others have also visited the NA premises. During such NA school visits, students learn about the UAE history and heritage, and view the NA’s educational facilities and the Customer Happiness Hall. They also attend a lecture educating them on the culture of the UAE, followed by a discussion on the same topic.



Qualified and efficient specialists from the NA deliver the lecture on good citizenship, happiness, containment of others and on the UAE heritage which helps to reinforce all these values and instill them in the school students. The lecture evidence is derived from the line and actions taken by the Founding Leader, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, by Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, and by the wise leadership which represent the sustainable civilizational legacy that bridges the gap in concepts and facilitates dialogue with others. These noble attitudes resulted in favorable impressions on students about the UAE which hosts more than 200 Arab and foreign communities. Furthermore, these attitudes reinforced the humanitarian side of their character to become a role- model for others to follow regardless of their nationalities. Consequently, this would enhance and promote the values of understanding, peace, violence renouncement, happiness and tolerance.



The National Archives urges the visiting students to be innovative, creative and to seek novelty in whatever they do. It also points out the Arab and global civilizations, and refers to the UAE's status and deep-rooted history during the bygone eras since it is not a nation that is newly introduced to history. Umm al Nar civilization is an evidence of this, also the UAE’s men whose names were made eternal through history, namely: Al Muhallab Bin Abi Sufra with his heroic deeds, and the navigator, Ahmed Bin Majid, and his immortal and endless impact, and others.



The National Archives’ focus through what it presents to Foreign communities' school students is on highlighting the strong and fruitful diplomatic relationships with people of different countries worldwide, which ensures UAE's peace and security and guarantees its being acquainted with lifestyles and successful experiences in various fields at regional, Arab and international levels.

The student visits program includes a tour of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan's Hall including samples of manuscripts, photographs, maps and electronic albums of the UAE’s leaders and its prominent figures in the modern era, presenting the story of the establishment of the Union, the foundation of the first cabinet and the selection of its flag design. The program also includes a tour of the Emirates Library where students view its main contents whether of paper or electronic references and sources, books, periodicals, specialized theses as well as how to benefit from its acquisitions. In Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Virtual Reality Hall, students watch a 3-D documentary film on the past and present of the UAE, and on the National Archives and its role in preserving the memory of the nation including the history and heritage of the UAE and the Gulf region.



Visitors also go on a tour of Customers' Happiness Hall, which was established by the National Archives with the aim of best serving researchers and academics, as it offers a number of computers along with advanced facilities and means to help researchers in conducting and following up their respective researches, and in copying their needed archival material using modern devices.

The National Archives receives an academic visit from New York and George Washington Universities' students



A delegation of students of social services studies from New York University “NYU” in Abu Dhabi and of art therapy studies from The George Washington University “GWU” undertook an academic visit to the NA premises. They got acquainted with aspects of the UAE’s ancient history and the memory of the nation preserved by the NA for future generations.



The NYU students accompanied their guest delegation from the GWU to the NA as it has strong and constructive relationships with academic institutions inside the UAE and abroad, and it provides students with knowledge relating to its great mission and patriotic objectives. This is in addition to the scientific benefit gained through learning about the UAE society's customs and traditions, and aspects and events of the UAE history and the establishment of its blessed union. During the visit, H.E. Dr. Abdulla Mohamed Al Raisi, the NA Director-General, received the students of both universities and briefed them about the NA’s efforts and preparations for hosting the ICA Congress 2020 in the UAE, through which the UAE will be the first Arab state to host this significant historical event where archiving and documentation experts, specialists, and officials from various countries worldwide shall meet.

His Excellency provided them with important information about the NA and its journey that has extended for about half a century through which it has provided intellectuals with its publications that combine authenticity with contemporaneity, and heritage with modernity, apart from its working on archiving and documentation. This is in addition to its role in collecting, documenting and translating invaluable historical materials relating to the UAE, in particular, and the Gulf region, in general. It has also conducted and published specialized historical researches as well as hosting and participating in local, regional and international conferences and symposiums. This is along with its efforts in organizing exhibitions relating to the UAE and contributing to the national education of students through its educational programs.



The delegations of the two established universities took a tour of the NA premises where they visited the Customer Happiness Hall and were briefed on its functions including receiving researchers. To this end, the hall was supplied with facilities to help visitors with their research-work on the heritage and history of the UAE and Gulf region utilizing the NA historical documents. The hall was carefully designed to create a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere for researchers. It was also furnished in a convenient way to motivate visitors to spend a long time searching among the NA’s treasures including historical documents, maps, photographs, and multimedia that can only be found in the NA.



Students expressed their admiration of the Customer Happiness Hall, which achieve its role, and functions as other similar halls at the most advanced international archives; as it receives and provides researchers with scientific research mechanisms and computers through which they gain access to archival material and documents. This is in addition to offering the facilities of photocopying and scanning of documents and maps. The hall provides a relaxed research friendly atmosphere as it is located close to the library so that a researcher can simultaneously access any references, resources or historical documents needed for his/ her research.

The visit included a tour of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Hall which contains samples of manuscripts, photographs, maps and electronic albums of the UAE’s leaders and its most prominent figures of the modern era, depicting the story of the establishment of the Union, the foundation of its first cabinet and the selection of the federation flag.



The visit also included a tour of the Emirates Library where students of both universities viewed its main contents whether hard or electronic copies of references and resources, books, periodicals, specialized theses and were briefed as well on how to utilize its acquisitions. In Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Virtual Reality Hall, students watched a 3-D documentary film on the past and present of the UAE, and the National Archives and its role in preserving the memory of the nation.

The National Archives of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and the We Are All Emirates Society signed a memorandum of understanding this morning, with the aim of strengthening joint national action and achieving many common goals between the two parties.

Honoring more than 500 creators and destinations who participated in the fourth session

The National Archives celebrates the distinguished and creative individuals in the Historians Club

The National Archives honored the winners of the Student Historians Club competition award in its fourth session, which targeted students from eighth to eleventh grades in public and private schools in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. The Student Historians Club competition, which is adopted and sponsored by the National Archives in cooperation with its strategic partner represented by the Abu Dhabi Education Council, comes within the framework of the National Archives’ endeavors to channel students’ energies into well-studied and directed national historical programs that contribute to the development of society, building and strengthening the student’s personality, and consolidating moral values and lofty principles.

The National Archives linked the activities of the fourth session of the Student Historians Club competition to the national values affirmed by our wise leadership. The course came in some of its axes in response to the initiative to support the curricula with the subject of moral education, and in other axes it also came in response to the initiative (2017 is the year of goodness). Also, some of the landmarks of the dear country and its ancient historical heritage.

At the beginning of the ceremony, His Excellency Majid Al Muhairi, Executive Director of the National Archives, delivered a speech in which he welcomed all the participants and attendees, and congratulated the winners. In his speech, he indicated that the projects that participated call for happiness and pride, and express the creative creative energies of the students. He highly valued his happiness for the national, societal and cultural activities. Artistic, literary, and other activities for the members of the Student Historians Club, which continue throughout the year, especially those wonderful activities that touch souls with their humanitarian nature, such as volunteer services, visits to the families of the martyrs, the wounded, and the injured among the valiant heroes of our armed forces, and their keenness to plant the martyr’s tree in schools.

Al-Muhairi added: The generous attention that our National Archives pays to students in the preparatory and secondary cycles by directing their energies to national programs that contribute to inculcating the principles of good citizenship in the student, consolidating his moral values, promoting loyalty and belonging to the homeland and its wise leadership, and consolidating the national identity. This is the path of the wise leadership and its aspirations and hopes in building the human being that it attaches most of its attention to, especially the youth, who we all agree are the wealth of the nation and the guarantee of its future.

His Excellency the Executive Director thanked the Abu Dhabi Education Council, the strategic partner in this renewed success achieved by the Student Historians Club.

The Student Historians Club, with its activities and events, is a pioneering national project adopted and sponsored by the National Archives. In the national upbringing of generations of students, and it is certain that the goals that the National Archives aspires to behind this project have begun to be embodied in a tangible reality represented by the creativity of students and their supervisors in the club’s competition. They were distinguished by their national and community activities.

The categories of the fourth session of the Historians Club competition project revolved around the best historical model, and Al Fahidi Fort in Dubai was chosen based on its status. As it is the oldest building in Dubai, the best narrative material narrated in the oral history style chosen by students, the best historical magazine, which is about the righteous martyrs of the homeland, and the best presentation within the framework of the lofty initiative represented in supporting the "moral education" of the school curricula.

The Student Historians Club competition approved 93 projects from 49 schools. The honoring ceremony for the fourth session of the Student Historians Club witnessed the honoring of more than 500 creators and entities who participated in the club competition and its activities in celebration of the following categories: students who won first, second and third places, coordinators, who are the teachers supervising students The schools that won first, second and third places, and parents, as it is not possible for a student to succeed and innovate in isolation from the environment in which he grows up and thrives.

And in line with the directives of His Highness the President of the State to make 2017 a year of goodness, the new session of the Historians' Club witnessed honoring the prominent figures in the field of community, national and voluntary activities that translate the meanings and characteristics of good citizenship and national values that enhance loyalty and belonging to the homeland, which made the Historians' Club a cell of activity throughout the year, and the National Archives also distributes certificates of appreciation to all participants in this year's competition.

The works presented by the participants demonstrated their loyalty and belonging to the homeland, their pride in its identity, history and heritage, their adherence to its values and culture, and their pride in the glories of the founding leaders and their great legacy. and the high-quality educational services received by state schools, and the participating works expressed our students’ faith in national and behavioral values, and cognitive and societal values, which gave their participation in the Student Historians Club competition and the rest of its activities a special character that made it close to the hearts of the various segments of society.

It is worth noting that the fourth session of the Student Historians Club competition has arranged the winning schools for the first place as follows: From the public education sector, the Al Maha Joint School for Girls won the category of the best model of "Al Fahidi Fort".

In the category of the best historical magazine entitled “The Martyrs of the Nation,” the school (Al-Fouah for Basic Education) won. As for the category of the best presentation, which is related to the initiative to support curricula with the subject of moral education; It was won by (Umama Bint Al-Harith School for Secondary Education), while (Qatar Al-Nada Secondary School) for girls won the best narrated story subject “Oral History”, as it dealt with the aspects of ancient life in the Emirates in its various aspects.

With regard to the private education sector, (ADNOC Male Schools) ranked first in the category of the best model of "Al Fahidi Fort", while the female branch of (ADNOC) schools won in the category of the best historical magazine entitled "Martyrs of the Nation", and the (Al Ittihad) School for Girls in Al Ain excelled in In the category of the best presentation, "Moral Education", and in the category of the best narrated narrative material, "Oral History", Al Ittihad School for Girls in Abu Dhabi won the first place. The stories dealt with the life of the founding leader, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan - may God rest his soul - and his charitable initiatives, coinciding with the Year of Giving 2017.

Within the categories of the award, exemplary families were honored whose efforts were evident in the excellence of their children, and in line with the initiative (2017 is the Year of Giving), schools that excelled in community issues and volunteer work were honored. Primary and secondary schools, Al-Baaya School for basic and secondary education, and Al-Jahili School for secondary education.

The honoring also included the pioneers of the resident and organizing committees, in the National Archives and in the Abu Dhabi Education Council - from the Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra branches. The National Archives appreciated the efforts of all the students who participated in the Student Historians Club competition this year. Mr. Farhan Al-Marzouqi, Director of the Institutional and Community Communication Department at the National Archives, awarded each participant a certificate of appreciation.

It is noteworthy that the attendees and participants followed the details of two distinguished projects, the first on the moral education initiative of Al-Ittihad National Private School - Al-Ain, and the second in the field of oral history, entitled "The Way of the Emirates of Good" presented by Al-Ittihad National Private School.

Participants in the ceremony from the administrative apparatus in state schools, parents of students, and the students themselves praised the role played by the National Archives as an essential partner in the national upbringing of generations.