More than 500 people a day visit its pavilion:

The National Archives continues to receive the public in its pavilion at Cairo Book Fair


The National Archives continues its active participation in Cairo International Book Fair; it receives researchers, intellectuals, and various segments of society. The pavilion is well received by the Egyptian public, exhibitors and visitors from all over the world.

The National Archives' participation comes in the framework of implementing its initiatives in the Year of Zayed, and its focus on highlighting the values of the Year of Zayed; namely respect, wisdom, human development and sustainability. The participation includes many events and projects that chronicle and document merits and virtues of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. As the 49th session of the exhibition coincides with the UAE's celebration of the Year of Zayed, the National Archives gifted its publications, especially those dealing with the journey and values of the Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to the Egyptian people and the public visiting the exhibition.

This participation of the National Archives reflects the strong relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the Arab Republic of Egypt, established by the Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a special  relationship that is becoming increasingly established under the wise leadership of the two brotherly countries.

The National Archives' pavilion at the Cairo International Book Fair witnesses a great demand for exploring the history of the UAE and the celebration of the Year of Zayed. This has encouraged the exhibition visitors to check the documents on the UAE history and its relations with Egypt. The National Archives' pavilion included historical photographs documenting the visits of the Founding Leader to the Arab Republic of Egypt and his meetings with different Egyptian presidents and officials. The pavilion also presented pictures of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and dignitaries and leaders of the UAE and their meetings with presidents and leaders of Egypt in the framework of their bilateral coordination, strong relations and continuous mutual support.

The participation of the National Archives in the Cairo International Book Fair attracted a great interest from the media, which shed lights on the aspects of the life and journey of the Founding Leader Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan and his role in the establishment of the United Arab Emirates, as well as his local, Arab and international achievements, his love for Egypt and its people, and his role in strengthening brotherly relations between the two countries.

It is noteworthy that the National Archives' pavilion receives more than 500 visitors daily and has been open to visitors since the beginning of the exhibition. The opening ceremony was attended by H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Deputy Chairman of the National Archives, H.E. Dr. Abdulla Mohammed Alraisi, Director General of the National Archives, Farhan Al Marzouqi, Director of Corporate and Community Outreach Department at the National Archives and a number of the National Archives' staff.

The National Archives pavilion displays a number of rare books and documents that depict the achievements, positions and actions of the Founding Leader Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, including: "Zayed and Excellence", "Zayed: Man who built a Nation", " Zayed from Challenge to Union", "Zayed and Heritage"," Zayed Ruler of Al Ain" and "Khalifa:  Journey into the Future", which includes the achievements of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and "The Diaries of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai," from 1969 to 2010, and “Diaries of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, from 1969 to 2010”.

The “Memory of the Nation” exhibition receives academic and recreational visits by more than 4,000 students

The NA pavilion, dubbed the “Memory of the Nation” exhibition, at Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival received academic and recreational visits by more than 4,000 students.

More than 4,000 students in different academic stages paid academic and recreational visits to the “Memory of the Nation” exhibition in the NA’s pavilion at Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival over the last few days. They learned about aspects of the UAE’s history and the achievements of its people and great leaders. These aspects complement and enrich the national curriculums. In the provision of such reliable historical information, the NA draws on modern and exciting technology, which makes such information more effective. Through its programs, the NA aspires to enhance loyalty, the sense of belonging and national identity among students and to gear them up toward pursuits advocated by the directives of the wise leadership. During their visit to the “Memory of the Nation” exhibition, the students will take a tour of its various sections, learn about the historical documents and their importance, and get an overview of UAE’s National Archives and its role in collecting and preserving the memory of the nation for future generations. Moreover, students will be informed about the considerable attention to education paid by the founder Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which had been given top priority in his thinking and approach. To this end, he went to great lengths to support learning inside and outside the UAE, and encourage successive generations to study and excel in their academic performance. He drew up growth plans that have been instrumental in the development of education and eradication of illiteracy.

In the education section at the “Memory of the Nation” exhibition, the student delegations were apprised of the NA’s modern educational techniques involving games and fun activities. They expressed their admiration for the values tree board, which caught their attention, because it embodied national values and icons such as the national identity, good citizenship, the founder, historical knowledge, loyalty to the leadership and the Nation, positive thinking, tolerance, innovation, moral values and scientific research.

It is worth mentioning that the holdings of the “Memory of the Nation” exhibition focus on important aspects of the UAE’s history and heritage. Through such holdings, the NA seeks to inform students of the glorious past of their fathers and ancestors, using techniques that stir up their interest and capture their imagination. Moreover, such techniques reinforce students’ emotional and moral bond to their history and heritage and make them proud of their bright present. By playing such a role, the NA has become a key partner in the national education process and in preparing a new generation whose thoughts and values are consistent with those of the founding fathers and the directives of the wise leadership.

In Celebration of the Year of Zayed, and in compliance with the directives of the UAE President, the National Archives is launching the Centennial initiative to honor Zayed’s values and achievements. On this occasion, His Excellency Hamad Abdulrahman Al Midfa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Archives, remarked as follows:

“This initiative of the National Archives is being launched pursuant to decrees issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Their Highnesses the members of the Federation Supreme Council, Rulers of the Emirates, regarding implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed, and in deference to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. His Excellency pointed out that this national initiative sheds light on important pages of Zayed’s history and values for the new generations to look at and appreciate. It presents the achievements of the exceptional leader who spared no effort to build a prosperous state whose people enjoy progress and prosperity.”


The Centennial initiative will include four themes designed to consolidate the values incorporated into the slogan of the Year of Zayed, namely, respect, wisdom, building people and sustainability. These themes will be mirrored in the messages of the initiative that we look forward to get across to all segments of the public nationwide.


In the first theme, the objectives of the initiative focus on emphasizing the founding leader’s appreciation and due regard for all nationalities and the members of society at large. This caring attitude has earned the UAE a global reputation for upholding rights, equality and justice and made it an ideal place for social coexistence.

The second theme highlights wisdom. Sheikh Zayed was described as the Wise Man of the Arabs. His national, pan-Arab and international attitudes reflect his vision and wisdom in tackling issues and events, beginning with the stages of the Union formation all the way to momentous events that took place in the Gulf region and other parts of the Arab world. The third theme throws into sharp relief Zayed’s keenness on building the people, as they are the future makers. He focused his efforts on education, health, community and sports, and safeguarded all such achievements by building a defense force and a strong army. Thus, he placed the future of this homeland in the hands of its citizens who have shown they are capable of building it and rising up to the challenges. The last theme, sustainability, is highlighted in the Centennial initiative by the outstanding cultural and humanitarian heritage that the late Sheikh Zayed has left behind, which benefits the present generation and will be a guide for future generations. The founding leader had drawn a clear road map, carrying out solid national projects for a strong unified state that is capable of taking adversity and challenges in its stride, capitalizing on a successful development process based on a robust and sustainable foundation.


In a similar vein, His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Mohammed Alraisi, Director General of the National Archives, commented as follows on the national Centennial initiative during this Year of Zayed: “No matter how big the initiatives that shed light on the unique personality of Sheikh Zayed and his endless giving may be, and no matter how numerous its related projects are, they will be too little for such a great leader who unified our people and founded a nation on a durable basis. He worked hard on building the people and honing their skills, because he firmly believed in the importance of human capital in the development process as well as in safeguarding the achievements of the homeland and its renaissance.


His Excellency added that the National Archives has made sure that the projects of the Centennial initiative will comply with the National Archives mission, vision and objectives. These projects will promote Zayed’s values and perpetuate his accomplishments in the eyes of all members of society and the generations for whom the National Archives is keen to share in civic education. At the same time, these projects stand underscore that the founding leader was a farsighted visionary. This is evidenced by his directives to establish the National Archives in order to preserve the memory of the nation, and document the biographies and achievements of the UAE founding fathers and leading personalities, which are bright spots and proud moments in the history of our nation.


The Director General added: “As part of the Centennial initiative, the National Archives will design 100 educational games closely related to the history of the nation builder and founding father Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. This idea stems from the fact that the National Archives has used games as an educational tool, and apprised the present generations of the glorious deeds of their ancestors. The National Archives makes sure that these smart and innovative games will transfer knowledge to the children and enable them to appreciate national and historical information. The National Archives will make its applications available for free downloading for 100 days in order to provide its audience from different educational, governmental and community agencies with national knowledge.


His Excellency noted that the initiative will also include “organizing 100 photo exhibitions that capture the efforts of the founding leader in building the United Arab Emirates. These exhibitions will be a window through which the members of the public can view some aspects of the Sheikh Zayed’s feats. The National Archives will prepare 100 postcards with 100 different photos documenting aspects of Sheikh Zayed’s efforts at home and abroad in his triumphant journey of construction and development, building bridges and strengthening ties with brotherly and friendly nations. To commemorate this occasion, the National Archives will prepare 100 high-quality glossy photo albums to document Sheikh Zayed’s humanitarian activities and his enduring patriotic stands.


His Excellency Dr. Alraisi went on to say: “The Centennial initiative for the Year of Zayed will not be limited to the aforementioned, but will also include 100 letters of thanks from 100 sheikhs, ministers, community members and employees who will express their gratitude to Sheikh Zayed for dedicating his life to building the homeland and developing its citizens. National Archives and government staff members will participate in this initiative, which will further include 100 films about Sheikh Zayed’s life. The duration of each film will be one minute and will be uploaded on social media channels and YouTube.


The National Archives will give away a collection of its publications to 100 school libraries nationwide for disseminating national knowledge and presenting a true and documented picture of UAE history and heritage, its founding leader and his brothers, the founding fathers. In collaboration with the Welfare and Activities Section, Ministry of Education, the National Archives will launch Zayed in 100 Tales. This event will be part of the project of the Student Historians Club that aims at instilling national and moral values in the hearts and minds of our young generations, encouraging them to read and write. The winners will be honored at the Abu Dhabi Book Fair.


The Centennial initiative will dedicate categories in the Young Historian award to the Year of Zayed, and the winning research papers will be published. The initiative will compile a collection of 100 quotes by the founding leader to be posted on social media. Moreover, it will include the preparation of school murals containing such quotes. The initiative will also provide 100 documents about Sheikh Zayed that will be published on social media. In addition to the projects of the Centennial initiative, and with the aim of spreading its benefits and providing an opportunity world-wide to learn about Sheikh Zayed’s inspirational life, dedication, achievements and success, the National Archives will translate some of its publications about the founding leader into a number of languages, including French, Spanish, Chinese and Urdu. The National Archives will incorporate the logo of the Year of Zayed into its official letters, e-mails, official website and intranet.

The National Archives enhances its exhibits in the “Memory of the Nation” with historical documents

The National Archives added to its “Memory of the Nation” exhibition at Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival a number of significant historical documents, which stand as a historical testimony to some past events. These documents are samples of millions of historical documents kept by the NA.

Among the most important historical documents exhibited in the “Memory of the Nation” are:  the Exclusive Agreement, Treaty of Friendship, documents on Al Maqta Bridge and Fort, the document of the UAE’s accession to the UN on December 9, 1971, some of Union documents kept by the NA in Qasr Al Hosn Archives, and a large number of historical photographs depicting some bilateral meetings that led to the establishment of the Union, as well as photographs of the Founding Fathers.

Historical documents at “Memory of the Nation” exhibition, which is a primary corner in Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival, highlights the historical and cultural dimensions of the UAE, and the transformation, growth and development it witnessed during the reign of the Founding Leader Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the Founding Fathers. These historical documents are samples of documents preserved at the Nationa Archives, and are the main source for researchers interested in writing the history and heritage of the UAE and the Gulf region.

The NA, which opens its doors for researchers and academics, is keen to present samples of its acquisitions to inside and outside visitors of Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival. The NA assures that the historical information it presents, which are obtained from major international archives, are reliable and evidenced by historical records and documents.

The National Archives presents the journey of Al Bu Falah to Abu Dhabi

At the “Memory of the Nation” exhibition in Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival

The “Memory of the Nation” exhibition, which represented the participation of the National Archives at Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival, has included a special corner that displays, in an enjoyable style and using modern technology, the journey of Al Bu Falah from “Liwa” Oasis, the original stronghold of Bani Yas, to Abu Dhabi under the leadership of Sheikh Dhiyab Bin Issa after the discovery of water there. It also shows how development had occurred in Abu Dhabi, which reached the peak of its prosperity under the wise leadership of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The National Archives tells the story of the establishment of Abu Dhabi, where Al Bu Falah settled as they were coming from Al Dhafra to work in fishing and to diversify their means of subsistence; therefore, transferring Abu Dhabi from an isolated island to a populated area.  This corner at the “Memory of the Nation” exhibition shows how Abu Dhabi has developed and achieved prosperity, paying a special attention to the year 1918, when  Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan was born, which is a milestone in UAE history. It also shows Sheikh Zayed’s miraculous efforts that transformed the desert into a country that is ranked today among the most advanced countries in the world. The corner displays photographs of construction and urban development made by Sheikh Zayed in the UAE.

The scenario points out that preparing people was the first priority of the Founding Leader, who was able to prepare generations that are capable of preserving the nation’s accomplishments, and who travelled around the country to follow up construction works and urban development projects, to achieve happiness to the people and residents of the UAE. Abu Dhabi has witnessed, in record time, great achievements in various fields of life, which led to the integration of modernization process. The development, stability, growth, harmony and social peace, which the UAE is experiencing today, is certainly a result of the genius work of Sheikh Zayed who spared no effort to place the UAE in the most appropriate place among civilized nations. 

The scenario, which the NA intended to be appropriate for all ages, focuses on Sheikh Zayed’s approach to unity. Since his accession to power in Abu Dhabi, he was keen to unify the “Trucial States”, so he initiated the call for the Union, meeting and consulting with other rulers. He stressed in these meetings the importance of the Union, and the great historic event, of establishing the Union on December 2, 1971, was announced to the people of the UAE and all countries worldwide.

The scenario, presented by the “Memory of the Nation” exhibition, also shows visitors some of the achievements made during the reign of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed. These achievements contributed to the enablement of the Emirati citizen and to the prosperity and advancement of the UAE at the local and international levels.

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



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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).