The National Library and Archives (“NLA”) has announced the completion of Phase 1 of its leading project, the Encyclopaedia of the UAE History. The initiative aims to document the national memory, documentary assets and cultural accomplishments of the UAE.
The encyclopaedia aims to also serve as a reliable and approved reference that contributes to the development, protection and publishing of the intellectual production as well as promoting the NLA’s position through strategic partnerships.
Phase 1 involved the identification of around 10,400 sources and references covering all periods to be documented by the encyclopaedia in addition to the economic, social, cultural, heritage aspects and others.
His Excellency Abdulla Majed Al Ali, the NLA Director General, said, “The encyclopaedia’s working party has succeeded in bringing Phase 1 to full completion as this phase is one of the most important stages for the encyclopaedia to be accomplished and widespread. In fact, we have identified about 10,400 sources and references that cover different eras of the UAE’s history, starting from the Stone and Bronze Ages to the foundation of the Union and the UAE’s rapid development under the prudent directives of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and our wise leadership, which followed his example and continued his glorious march.”
His Excellency emphasised that the sources and refences can be increased in light of the constant endeavours of the encyclopaedia’s team which is composed of more than 100 experts and researchers from around the world, working together with 63 experts and researchers from the UAE. The encyclopaedia’s sections, eras and other fields were distributed among the working parties according to the specialisation of each member of the committee.
Furthermore, His Excellency said that the Encyclopaedia of the UAE History adopts the highest international standards in work during the following stages, employing digital technologies and artificial intelligence along with applications to increase accuracy in work and improve performance. The encyclopaedia is a continuous project that focuses on, documents and preserves the UAE’s ancient history for the future generations.
The NLA has established an electronic portal for the encyclopaedia to serve researchers. The portal archives the researchers’ works according to the encyclopaedia classifications, and the time and date of each process in addition to archiving actions of each member of the working party.
The encyclopaedia’s sources and references are varied and include books and booklets, written documents and historical photographs, journals and articles, scientific and academic papers and others in both Arabic and English. They were classified according to the encyclopaedia sections, which start with the geographical location of the events that took place in the UAE history.
The encyclopaedia also highlights the eras: the Emirates during the prehistoric era, Emirates during the pre-Islamic era and the Emirates since the advent of Islam until the first Abbasid era, followed by the succeeding Emirates during the Portuguese, Dutch and British eras up to the twentieth century. The encyclopaedia also sheds light on a range of sectors such as the political, military, transport, education, health and judicial sectors, and it tackles the economic, social, cultural and heritage aspects.
In Phase 2 of the encyclopaedia, specialist researchers will be involved in researching and writing. Phase 3 will require editing the first draft and carrying out modifications requested by heads of the working parties, while Phase 4 is dedicated to the final review by the scientific committee of the encyclopaedia. The editing, proofreading and indexing will be completed in Phase 5. Phase 6 will include the design, production and printing of the encyclopaedia by the end of 2026.
