On Arab Document Day.. Aboul Gheit praises the UAE’s efforts in preserving heritage and documents

Cairo, November 13 / WAM / His Excellency Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, praised the pioneering role played by the UAE in preserving documents and national archives and preserving the Arab documentary heritage, stressing that the UAE represents an advanced model in strengthening digital and physical preservation systems and protecting the nation’s historical identity through restoration and documentation programs and advanced initiatives in this field.

This came in Aboul Gheit’s speech during the celebration of Arab Document Day 2025, which was held under the slogan “The League of Arab States… Eighty years of joint Arab action,” in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Majid Al Ali, Director General of the National Archives and Library, Head of the Arab Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives, and Dr. Muhammad Mustafa Kamal, Director of the Institute of Arab Studies and Research, representing the Director General of EXO.

The ceremony, which was held at the headquarters of the Arab League, was also attended by Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Buainain, Chairman of the Memory of the World Committee for the Arab Region, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the Documentation House in the Emirate of Sharjah, and Salah Salem Al Mahmoud, Director General of the Documentation House in Sharjah, along with an elite group of experts and representatives of Arab documentation institutions.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit said that cooperation between the Arab League and Emirati institutions contributes significantly to supporting the capabilities of joint Arab action to preserve national memory and common identity.

He stressed that the Arab document represents an integral pillar of the nation’s identity, its living memory, and a witness to its history, explaining that preserving the documentary heritage is no longer a cultural choice, but has become an urgent national responsibility in light of the challenges facing the region targeting Arab identity and attempts to erase history and distort the intellectual heritage.

He explained that the Arab Document Day initiative reflects Arab awareness of the importance of the document as a pillar of collective memory and an essential component of national identity.

Aboul Gheit congratulated the Arab Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives and the UAE on the occasion of the election of His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Majid Al Ali as its President, expressing his confidence in the continuation of fruitful cooperation to protect the archival heritage and preserve Arab historical assets.

Aboul Gheit praised the documentary exhibition “The League of Arab States in the Eyes of Arab Documentation and Archive Institutions,” stressing that the permanent museum exhibition that the university opened last September embodies eight decades of joint Arab action and carries a clear message of continuity in the future.

For his part, Dr. Abdullah Majid Al Ali stressed that Arab Document Day represents an important occasion to renew the commitment to protecting the documentary heritage and preserving Arab memory, pointing out that the document is not just a paper record, but rather the nation’s memory and its living conscience, preserving people’s stories and tales of place and time.

He said that this year’s celebration coincides with the eightieth anniversary of the founding of the League of Arab States, stressing that the League has written prominent pages throughout its history in joint Arab action and contributed to protecting identity and enhancing cooperation in the cultural and scientific fields.

He added that national and Arab archives represent a knowledge and cultural reserve that preserves history, documents the present, and presents it to future generations, stressing the importance of unifying Arab and international efforts to support archive institutions through developing legislation and adopting best practices in digital preservation and documentation.

He explained that the Arab Regional Office of the International Council on Archives continues to build on the achievements achieved over the past years, which have strengthened the presence of the Arab region in the international archives system and increased its contribution to the protection of human documentary heritage.

Al Ali stressed that the office will continue to work to protect the memory of the Arab world, preserve its heritage, and enhance its role in the global cultural dialogue, thanking the League of Arab States for its permanent hosting of cultural and scientific events that serve Arab memory and common identity.

Dr. Mohamed Mustafa Kamal, Director of the Institute for Arab Research and Studies, said in a speech he delivered on behalf of Mohamed Ould Omar, Director General of ALECSO, that the document represents the pulse of history and awareness, preserves the truth and preserves the identity of the nations for future generations, calling for spreading documentary awareness and using modern technology to preserve documents and consolidate Arab identity.

He stressed the importance of the Arab League as a solid Arab entity capable of facing crises and challenges, noting that the Institute of Arab Studies and Research and the Institute of Manuscripts have issued many works related to the history of the Arab League to keep pace with the existing challenges.

He also praised the Secretary-General’s efforts to keep pace with developments in the international scene and re-evaluate priorities, and described the Arab League Museum as a cultural beacon on par with international institutions.

Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Buainain called for strengthening the Memory of the Arab World program and developing cooperation between Arab institutions in the fields of restoration and documentation, stressing that unifying Arab efforts in this field will place the region in the position it deserves historically.

At the conclusion of the celebration, Dr. Abdullah Majid Al Ali honored Ahmed Aboul Gheit in appreciation of his support for efforts to preserve Arab documents and archives.

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