The National Committee for the Union’s Narrative discusses its work plan and the draft document for the Union’s narrative

Abu Dhabi, 26 January / WAM / Based on the decision issued by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Presidential Office, in December of last year regarding the formation of the National Committee for the Union’s Narrative, the committee held its first meeting, headed by His Excellency Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Committee, and in the presence of members representing the concerned authorities, at the Presidential Office in Abu Dhabi.

The committee reviewed the mechanism for implementing its tasks, which revolve around preparing and approving the official document for the union’s narrative, which includes the precise sequence of historical events related to the establishment of the United Arab Emirates, using approved terms and synonyms, unifying the national narrative and ensuring the consistency of all forms of national, media, educational and cultural content with the accurate information approved in the official document, approving national campaigns related to the union and national symbols before launching them, ensuring their consistency with the union’s narrative in coordination with the relevant authorities, and adopting national content related to the union and state symbols in the media. Media, educational curricula, various publications and editions in coordination with the relevant authorities, and coordination with relevant government agencies and national institutions to ensure a unified narrative in all published or displayed content dealing with the establishment of the Union or its symbols, in addition to providing recommendations and directives to governmental, media and educational agencies in a way that ensures adherence to the approved narrative.

His Excellency Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi stressed that the formation of the committee under the guidance of the wise leadership comes from the state’s keenness to have a single, approved reference for the narrative of the establishment of the United Arab Emirates, in a way that preserves the accuracy of history and prevents discrepancy or uncontrolled diligence in dealing with the moment of founding and its symbols.

He explained that the narrative of the union is not only a documentary work, but rather a comprehensive national framework that is reflected in the media, education, cultural content, national campaigns, and everything that is presented to current and future generations about the story of the union.

The Chairman of the Committee added that the role of the Committee is not to rewrite history, but rather to confirm it in its precise and approved form, and formulate it in a unified and clear language based on reliable sources and solid historical research, indicating that the official document of the Union’s narrative will be the basis reference on which all content dealing with the establishment of the state is built, which constitutes a shared responsibility that requires full cooperation between all parties represented in the Committee.

He pointed out that the diversity of representation of federal and local authorities in the committee’s membership reflects the state’s awareness of the importance of partnership and integration in building a single, indivisible national narrative, stressing that the committee’s work will be coordinated and dependent at the same time, and aims to ensure consistency and accuracy without complexity or narrowness.

He also pointed out that periodic review of the approved narrative will be part of the committee’s work, keeping pace with new reliable historical research, while preserving the fundamental constants that do not accept interpretation.

The members of the committee presented their views on the importance of the National Committee for the Union’s Narrative and the role it will play in supporting a unified and documented narrative for the Union with the participation of the various parties represented in the committee.

The committee reviewed its work plan for the year 2026 and the projects falling under this plan, which includes the project to prepare the official document for the narrative of the union, which was presented by Dr. Abdullah Majid Al-Ali, Director General of the Archives and the National Library, in which he touched on the basic concept of the state narrative, a case study of a group of international experiences in documenting national narratives, tools for consolidating the national narrative, the methodology for preparing the narrative of the union, and the structure of the research and specialized teams that will work on the project.

The meeting was attended by His Excellency Hajar Ahmed Al Dhahli, Secretary General of the Education, Human Development and Society Council, Dr. Abdullah Majid Al Ali, Director General of the National Archives and Library, His Excellency Khalid Ibrahim Mohammed bin Bishr Al Marri, Director of the Office of the Chairman of the National Committee for the Narrative of the Union, Mohammed Saeed Al Dhanhani, Director General of the Amiri Diwan in Fujairah, Abdullah Al Mahyan, Head of the Federal Affairs Office of the Emirate of Sharjah, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Shayeb Al Naqbi, Director General of the Department of Economic Development, and Reem. Al Shammari, Director General of the Founder’s Office, Dr. Jamal Al Kaabi, Secretary General of the National Media Authority, Mohammed Ali Mohammed Al Dhahouri, Executive Director of the Media and Strategic Affairs Sector at the Abu Dhabi Media Office, Mohammed Al Kaabi, Executive Director of the Ajman Media Office, Sabah Al Shamsi, Assistant Secretary General for the Government Communication Sector and General Secretariat Affairs at the Dubai Executive Council, and Dr. Hamad Al Hammadi, Secretary General of the National Committee for the Union’s Narrative.

The National Committee for the Union’s Narrative is the only approved reference for the narrative of the establishment of the United Arab Emirates. It is concerned with documenting the accurate historical narrative of the events that preceded and during the establishment of the Union, drafting the approved official document for the Union’s narrative and ensuring that the national, media and educational content is consistent with its contents, in a way that embodies the pivotal role of the late founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, “may God rest his soul,” in establishing the state and consolidating its union.

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