• With the Participation of Specialized National Institutions and Strong Attendance from University Students and the Public.
  • Fatima bin Hareez: Documents Give History Its Authentic Voice and Preserve Future Generations’ Right to Know Their Past

Dubai – October 2026: The “Arab Document Day” exhibition, organized by the Research and Studies Department at the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center at the Center’s premises in the Umm Al Mu’mineen area, recorded notable success and strong attendance.

The knowledge-focused event brought together a number of government entities and specialized institutions working in the fields of documents, archives, heritage and manuscripts, offering visitors a rich opportunity to explore aspects of historical memory and the intellectual and national value embodied in documentary records.
The exhibition attracted large numbers of visitors, including university students, researchers, heritage and history enthusiasts, as well as members of the public from various age groups, reflecting growing interest in documents as authentic sources of knowledge.

The exhibition halls became an interactive space where documents and manuscripts met historical research and specialized expertise through the high-quality participation of the institutions and entities present, and the collections, materials, documents and experiences they showcased in the fields of preservation, documentation and restoration.

Living Memory

Fatima Saif bin Hareez, Director of the Research and Studies Department at the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center, said the success of the exhibition and the high level of engagement it generated demonstrate that historical documents can connect with different generations when presented within a knowledge-based framework that links them to the life and history of society.

She said: “A document is a form of memory that preserves the details that shaped the history of societies and enables researchers and future generations to read the past through its original sources. When we preserve a document, we are not merely preserving a historical event; we are preserving part of our identity and safeguarding the right of future generations to know their history as it happened and to build their knowledge on solid and reliable sources.”

She added: “What pleased us most about this edition was that interest was not limited to specialists and researchers, but extended to university students and members of the public. We see this as an important indication of growing awareness of the value of documents and manuscripts. Our aim is for documents to move beyond their narrow specialist context and become part of public culture, and for younger generations to understand that behind every document there is a story, and behind every story lies a part of the memory of the nation and society.”

Bin Hareez explained that the Center’s organization of the “Arab Document Day” exhibition comes within the framework of its mission to safeguard national heritage, produce and transfer knowledge associated with it, and create platforms for cooperation among institutions, experts and researchers.

She stressed that preserving collective memory is not the responsibility of a single entity, but requires institutional and intellectual integration to ensure its sustainability and transmission to future generations.

Knowledge Partnerships

The exhibition featured distinguished participation from a number of institutions and entities concerned with heritage, documentation and culture, including the National Archives and Library, the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, the Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library and the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, alongside several other organizations and institutions.

These contributions added considerable diversity to the exhibition’s content through the experiences, collections and knowledge materials presented by participating entities, reflecting the wide range of disciplines involved in preserving, maintaining and making documents and manuscripts accessible to researchers and the public.

Bringing these institutions together on a single platform also created an opportunity to exchange expertise and experiences in documentation, preservation and restoration, while strengthening communication among organizations working in the field. This, in turn, supports national efforts to safeguard historical documents and sources and develop modern approaches to their preservation and management.

Applied Knowledge

The program featured a series of panel discussions addressing a range of topics that reflected the broad role documents play in interpreting history.

These included the presence of Arab documents in international historical research, as well as topics drawing on documentary sources to revisit aspects of the UAE’s economic and social history, including the pearl trade and the many details associated with it that formed an important part of community life during different historical periods.
The discussions also highlighted the value of Arab documents in historical studies and research conducted outside the region, as well as the importance of ensuring access to these sources, preserving them and making them available to researchers through modern scientific methods.

The exhibition was not limited to theoretical discussions. It also included a specialized manuscript restoration workshop that gave participants insight into some of the technical and scientific methods used to preserve manuscripts and address the effects of deterioration and ageing.

The workshop added a practical dimension to the event, connecting the historical significance of documents with the professional and specialized work required to ensure their survival. It also enabled participants to gain a closer understanding of the meticulous processes involved in restoration, preservation and conservation.

Strong Attendance
High visitor turnout was one of the exhibition’s most prominent features, with the stands of participating entities witnessing a steady flow of visitors, particularly university students, who showed considerable interest in the displayed content.

They explored various examples of documents, manuscripts and historical materials and learned about the work of national institutions specializing in preserving historical memory and heritage.

The exhibition also saw active engagement between researchers, interested visitors, members of the public and representatives of the participating entities. Visitors raised numerous questions about documents, methods of preservation and restoration, and how documentary sources can be used in research, adding an interactive and knowledge-driven dimension to the event.

At the conclusion of the exhibition, H.E. Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook, CEO of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center, honored representatives of the participating entities in recognition of their distinguished contributions and the specialized knowledge and expertise they provided, which helped enrich the exhibition and strengthen its mission of raising awareness of the importance of documents and preserving historical memory.
The recognition also reflected the Center’s appreciation for effective institutional partnerships and their role in supporting heritage preservation efforts and promoting the exchange of knowledge and expertise in the fields of documentation, conservation and restoration.