Latest news with #NationalLibraryandArchives
Middle East
2 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East
OPEN// Egypt keen to advance cultural diplomacy
CAIRO, June 29 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty on Sunday lauded the close cooperation with the Ministry of Culture. During his meeting with Minister of Culture Ahmed Fouad Henno, Abdelatty emphasized commitment to strengthening the cultural dimension within diplomatic work as a fundamental pillar of Egypt's foreign policy. He also commended the pivotal role played by the National Library and Archives in preserving the nation's heritage and history. Abdelatty expressed his aspiration to deepen cooperation with the National Library and Archives, particularly in restoring international treaties and documents signed by Egypt with other countries, as well as in preserving valuable books, references, and historical maps held by the foreign ministry. He further welcomed collaboration on projects related to the digitization of books and archival records. Discussions also addressed ways to boost the promotion of diverse cultural activities abroad through Egyptian embassies and consulates and to increase Egypt's participation in international cultural events to elevate its global standing and showcase the unique richness of Egyptian civilization. (MENA) M S H/R E E
Al Etihad
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
National Library and Archives spotlights promising young talent at 2025 UAE School Theatre Festival
26 June 2025 01:14 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI) The National Library and Archives (NLA) on Tuesday hosted the 2025 UAE School Theatre Festival awards ceremony at its Abu Dhabi headquarters. Held under the theme "My Nation, the UAE… Eternal Glory," and in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the fourth edition of the "Gateway to Talent" initiative honoured outstanding student performances, with the participation of around 7,500 students from across the ceremony opened with a speech by Aisha Al Zaabi, Head of the Educational Programmes Section at the National Library and Archives, who affirmed the institution's role in moulding young praised school theatre as a powerful tool for promoting education and national identity, highlighting its ability to spark creativity, boost confidence, and advance Emirati hailed the winning performances as inspiring models for the ceremony concluded with the awards ceremony for the place went to Al Murooj Kindergarten in Sharjah and Nad Al Hamar Kindergarten in place went to Omair Bin Abi Waqqas School in Sharjah, and third place went to Al Thameed School in Abu Dhabi, first place went to Al Sila School and Al Nahda place went to Al Jeel Kindergarten and Al Shatha Kindergarten, and third place went to Al Eathaar Kindergarten and Um Ghafa the first cycle, first place went to Mezyad School in Al Ain and Halima Al Saadia School in Abu place went to Al Ezza School in Abu Dhabi and Mohammed Bin Khalid School in Al place went to Madinat Zayed School in Al Dhafra and Ahmed bin Zayed School in Al students from Al Bidaya Kindergarten, Al Fayhaa'a Kindergarten in Abu Dhabi and Al Yahar Kindergarten in Al Ain were claiming honours were first-cycle students from Al Taweelah School in Abu Dhabi, Al Dhannah, and Al Marfa Schools in Al Dhafra. On the sidelines of the School Theatre Festival, Dr. Hosnia Al Ali, Education Adviser at the National Library and Archives, spoke to Aletihad about the purpose and evolving role of the awards. "This initiative aims to discover and nurture talents in the early stages of education - specifically from kindergarten to third grade," she explained."Theatre is considered the mother of all arts. Through theatrical activities, we work on enhancing students' speaking abilities, boosting their self-confidence, strengthening communication and Arabic language skills, and developing expressive movement."Beyond artistic skills, the initiative carries a deeper educational mission by entrenching Emirati history, culture, national identity and social values into student performances."Through teamwork and healthy competition, students learn how to interact positively and respectfully with one another," she initiative also reflects the broader objectives of the Year of Community by encouraging collaboration and strengthening student-family on the impact of visual and performing arts in shaping national identity, Dr. Al Ali stressed the importance of content."The theatrical works that students work on vary, including historical literary texts, a collection of poems and topics related to Emirati heritage and legacy," she are not just performances - they are educational tools."Through theatrical works, students learn about Emirati heritage and the history of their country, which is represented in many texts," she noted."National identity is represented by good citizenship," she continued."These theatrical works shed light on Emirati affairs and bring them into the classroom."Dr. Al Ali said 7,500 UAE school students participated in the selection process was rigorous, with the students judged on the criteria of: the theatrical theme, performance, delivery, language, set, costumes, lighting, plot, student integration, and how well the work aligns with national identity and community-related noted the increasing sophistication of submissions: "The criteria were not easy, and choosing the winners was not easy, especially because there has been a great deal of maturity in the theatrical scene in schools nationwide."What made the initiative especially meaningful was the focus on the youngest learners, she said."We decided to begin this portal with the younger generation, who might be young, but are promising and have impressive things to offer in theatrical work."Explaining the NLA's broader, long-term role and partnership with the Ministry of Education, she said, "We always support schools and promote education outside of the classroom and beyond the school curriculum. This is achieved through publications, books, information, lectures, reading workshops, games, meetings and field visits."We complement the Ministry of Education in a key and vital way. Together, we serve the Emirati community, especially students."We have reliable publications, archival documents and promising national talent who can deliver content in an age-appropriate way, using games, apps, and artificial intelligence."Dr. Al Ali confirmed that their programmes will support the UAE's AI curriculum rollout."We are now working intensively to ensure the NLA's programmes support this curriculum and are presented in attractive and innovative ways, aligned with academic levels."The programme will return later, with AI technologies integrated into future editions," she said. She added that the students' creative works will be compiled in the State Archives.
Al Etihad
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Etihad
UAE chairs Arab Regional Branch of International Council on Archives
20 June 2025 14:39 ABU DHABI (WAM)Dr. Abdulla Majid Al Ali, Director-General of the National Library and Archives, has been elected as President of the Arab Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives (ARBICA), representing the United Arab election serves as a testament to the National Library and Archives' achievements at local, Arab and international levels. It also underscores the institution's accelerated progress in archiving and documentation, reaffirming its position as a leading entity in preserving national memory and safeguarding documentary heritage. These efforts have further enhanced its prominent standing in the Arab cultural and archival landscape. On this occasion, Dr. Al Ali expressed his honour at the trust placed in him. He affirmed that the National Library and Archives, an active member of the International Council on Archives since 1975, takes great pride in standing at the forefront of Arab archival institutions receiving international recognition.
Al Etihad
08-06-2025
- General
- Al Etihad
‘History is our identity': How National Library and Archives safeguards UAE's collective memory for next generations
8 June 2025 23:46 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)In the UAE, archives are far more than just collections of old documents - they serve as testaments to the nation's journey, preserving the collective memory that defines its identity, an official of the National Library and Archives (NLA) has the country marks International Archives Day on June 9, Fatima Al Mazrouei, Head of the Historical Archives Department at the (NLA), reflects on how these records connect past, present, and future to Aletihad, Al Mazrouei said: 'International Archives Day is a very important day, especially in light of the UAE's great heritage and history, which must be preserved, appreciated, and passed on to future generations. This collective memory represents the nation's identity and spirit.'This philosophy, she noted, is rooted in the vision of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who once said: 'A nation without a past is a nation without a present or a future.'While the NLA has made its rich collection of historical documents accessible to the public, Al Mazrouei emphasised that its significance goes beyond mere preservation and display. These documents support the NLA's experts in analysing economic, political, social and cultural developments.'We are studying and analysing [the things that our ancestors left us] - the economic, political, heritage, archaeological aspects … any of these aspects can serve all fields present in the UAE and elsewhere,' Al Mazrouei said. 'We are the guardians of the legacy of the past... The Sheikhs ensured that this legacy is available to researchers, and we are working to realise the UAE vision that history is our identity, and the future is built on the memory of the past.'The media has been an integral part of documenting the country's journey, she added. Aletihad newspaper, for example, released its first issue in 1969 - which meant it was able to capture all the details of the Union when it was formed in 1971, Al Mazrouei said. She recalled visiting private schools and seeing archived issues of the newspaper on classroom walls, a way to remind students about the story of how the country was founded. 'On every occasion, they refer to the first issue of Aletihad newspaper,' she said. Personal Archives Preserving history is a task not limited to institutions such as the NLA. Every individual can contribute, Al Mazrouei said. 'Everyone has their own archive, and every document has value... We want to instil awareness that what we hold today can become a source of research or documentation tomorrow,' she said. She encouraged people to archive personal items such as old passports and medical cards - as these materials reflect 'a human and social dimension' of the nation's instil a culture of documentation in the youth, the NLA has introduced the Young Historian Award, a national initiative that encourages students to conduct original historical research using proper methodology and trusted sources, including oral history, she explained, is valuable especially in capturing social practices that are often missing from written records. 'These details - how coffee is served, how children greet guests, or the traditional etiquette - cannot always be found in books or documents. They live in memory, and we collect them through structured interviews with elders from across the Emirates,' Al Mazrouei said. Archiving Goes Digital In these days of smart technology, archives no longer meant dusty shelves and inaccessible records. Today, the UAE is leading a digital revolution in archival work, harnessing advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and high-quality digitisation to bring its rich history to researchers worldwide. Thanks to the country's digital infrastructure, researchers can access these high-quality scans anywhere, Al Mazrouei said. 'Today, researchers can download a document electronically, complete with its source and annotations, without having to travel. This is a qualitative leap that saves time and effort and enhances the credibility of research.'Al Mazrouei described how artificial intelligence is being used to support archiving work: 'AI converts files into text, and images into information... but the most important thing is that the inputs are correct.'This push for digitisation, she noted, is fully aligned with the UAE's sustainable development vision and long-term goals, including preserving resources and supporting environmental protection. 'We grew up with a stereotypical image of archives as boring and cluttered with papers. But today, thanks to digital transformation and careful organisation, archives have become a place that inspires, encourages research, and resembles a treasure,' Al Mazrouei said.
Iraqi News
01-06-2025
- Science
- Iraqi News
Iraq participates in Arab-Chinese Digital Library conference
Beijing ( – Iraq recently participated in a scientific conference in Beijing organized by the Arab-Chinese Digital Library in cooperation with the League of Arab States. The Iraqi Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities was represented by Bariq Raad Alawi, Director-General of the National Library and Archives. The conference focused on developing digital libraries and fostering expertise exchange between Arab and Chinese cultural institutions. In his address, Alawi emphasized Iraq's commitment to building global cultural relations and the importance of digital exchange. He announced that Iraq's National Library and Archives is preparing to launch the Iraqi Digital Library project. This initiative aims to make the nation's rich cultural heritage globally accessible using advanced digital technologies and international partnerships. The Arab-Chinese Digital Library management welcomed Iraq's active role and offered support for future collaborative projects. This participation underscores Iraq's strategic efforts to preserve and promote its cultural legacy in the digital age, enhancing its international cultural presence.
