The National Library and Archives Honors the Winners of the 14th Young Historian Award which contributes to enriching young people’s knowledge and enhances the NLA role in building and enriching knowledge societies.

The National Library and Archives organized an honouring ceremony for the winners of the Young Historian Award in its fourteenth edition which highlighted events, national values and concepts that ensure the sustainability of preserving the UAE history, culture and heritage. It also contributed to enriching young people’s knowledge of history and heritage as it focused on elements that solidify the Union’s foundations and the UAE’s global image. Its academic output contributed to spreading the culture of tolerance, coexistence, sustainability, and the values of the UAE society.
The award targeted fifth to twelfth graders. The Cycle 3 students from ninth to twelfth grades were required to write research papers, while fifth to eighth graders were required to prepare reports on the social, economic or geographical aspects of life in the UAE.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, His Excellency Abdul Allah Majed Al Ali, Director General of the National Library and Archives emphasized that our hopes are placed on students whose diligence and excellence enable them to demonstrate their love and belonging to the homeland, their loyalty to its wise leadership, and their absolute belief in the goals of the U.A.E., which continues the process of construction, progress, development and prosperity. He stressed that those who depend on young people are the undisputed winners, as they are the vital energy that elevates the homelands. He pointed out that we picked this up from the founder and builder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who gave the youth great attention and urged them to work hard for the nation. His Excellency indicated that our wise leadership followed in the late Founder’s footsteps, believing in the need to qualify and empower them academically and professionally to enhance their role in sustainable development.
His Excellency congratulated the winners who proved the NLA success in performing its mission of enriching knowledge societies. He stressed that the 14th Young Historian Award substantiated the award’s role in discovering talented and creative students and opened a window for them to innovation and scientific creativity in school circles. He highlighted the hard work put in by the NLA to ensure the sound national upbringing of the youth and the efforts of the strategic partners who manage education as per their duties.
Dr. Aisha Belkhair, Chairperson of the Award Organizing Committee, delivered a speech in which she said that the Young Historian Award honours the winners for their exceptional efforts in studying history, which creates a link between the present with the past and manifests the development of humanity through the ages.
She focused on the importance of history which means understanding and appreciating our roots and held the youth responsible for preserving the UAE’s precious heritage, spreading awareness of the importance of their glorious history. She congratulated the participants and winners for their remarkable achievement.
After that, the National Library and Archives honoured the first, second and third place winners in the categories of Economic History, Emirati Studies, Geographical History, Social History, and the Exceptional Award. The honouring included Cycle 2 winners from Al Mirfa Schools, Emirates National Schools, Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Girls, Al Kamal American School, and Al Dhait Primary School.
The Cycle 3 winners were also honoured; they included students from Emirates National Schools, Al Hudaiba, Al Nahda, Asma Bin Omays, Zeinat School, Al Maaref School and Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Girls.
Finally, the National Library and Archives honoured other schools for their distinguished participation in the 14th Young Historian Award, as well as the members of the organizing committee of the Young Historian Award, and the supervisors.
It is worth mentioning that the National Library and Archives will publish the winners’ research papers in books for the benefit of students and those interested, and to enrich the libraries of students and youth.