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The session began by highlighting the establishment of NLA, founded in 1968 under the directives of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the United Arab Emirates. NLA's objectives were defined as collecting and preserving documents and archives to enhance cultural and historical awareness. Today, it houses a vast collection of materials documenting various aspects of life in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf region.
During the session, His Excellency addressed several key themes, including document protection in times of crisis, the role of documents as references during conflicts, and the transformation of news into historical documents. He emphasised that documents are the cornerstone of preserving national memory and safeguarding identity, particularly during crises when nations face challenges that threaten their history and cultural heritage.
Al Ali noted that the importance of documents extends beyond simply being records of the past; they are also effective tools for understanding the present and building the future, in addition to their legal role in establishing rights and documenting facts before the international community.
The Director General of NLA commended the UAE Armed Forces for their role in defending the nation's achievements and resources, affirming that their performance during crises serves as an important reference for future generations.
His Excellency stressed the need to adopt proactive policies to safeguard documents through digitisation, creating backups, distributing archives across multiple centres, and developing effective risk management plans. He warned that the loss of documents during crises, whether due to wars or natural disasters, results in the loss of a significant part of the national memory. He emphasised the importance of documentation during times of conflict, noting that it supports states' political and legal positions and helps refute misleading narratives. He noted that many international issues have been resolved on the basis of reliable historical documents.
Al Ali clarified that what is considered current news today may become a historically valuable document in the future, necessitating its accurate and professional documentation to ensure its usefulness for historical study and for informing future decisions.
The session also touched on the Encyclopedia of the History of the United Arab Emirates, the first comprehensive national scientific encyclopedia documenting the country's history and civilisational achievements from pre-Christian times to the present day, covering various aspects of life in a scientific and objective manner.
His Excellency called upon owners of private archives to deposit them with NLA for restoration, digitisation, and preservation, recognising them as integral to the nation's memory and of great importance to researchers and others interested in the history and heritage of the United Arab Emirates.
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