Upon H.H. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed's guidance, the National Archives signed a memorandum of understanding with the British National Archives

Under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Chairman of the National Archives' Board, the National Archives of the United Arab Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding with the British National Archives to coordinate the translation and digitization of important historical documents, allowing for their accessibility to decision-makers and researchers, and utilizing them in the development of national curriculums in the various levels of education. It also provides for the  support of programs and activities of common interest, and cooperation in research related to archival resources, digitization and exchanging digital documents in accordance with the national laws and legislations of each party, for the next three years.

The MOU was signed by H.E. Dr. Abdulla Al Raisi, Director General of the National Archives, on behalf of the NA, and Jeff James, Chief Executive Officer of the British National Archives, on behalf of the British National Archives.

This came upon H.E. Dr. Abdullah Al Raisi, Director General of the National Archives' visit to the British National Archives in London. Referring to this MOU, His Excellency said: The National Archives of the United Arab Emirates signed this Memorandum of Understanding with the aim of translating and digitizing historical documents, and making them electronically accessible to decision-makers and researchers for use in the preparation of history and national curricula in various educational levels. Also to enhance the National Archives of the UAE with historical documents available in the seven sections of the British National Archives, relating to national and international historical documents, and to enhance the NA's expertise with the latest practices and standards adopted by those sections in the field of documentation, preservation, archiving and restoration, and their latest methods for allowing accessibility of historical collections to researchers. 

H.E. added that this signing comes within the framework of strengthening our relations with major international archives, and introducing the latest international experiences and skills to the National Archives in line with our strategic plan and its results, which will coincide with the year 2021 in which the UAE aspires to be, by the time of the Golden Jubilee of its Union, one of the best countries in the world.  We are working at the National Archives to achieve these national aspirations.

H.E. Dr. Al Raisi praised the British National archives, which holds collections dating back more than a thousand years, and historical records from the Middle Ages, as well as maps, architectural designs, and family history records.  His Excellency said:  We aim at strengthening relations with the British National Archives because of the great number of historical records and documents in its collection related to the history of the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf region, to benefit from its experience, and to collect more of the rare documents it holds with the aim of preserving the UAE documentary assets, to provide decision-makers and researchers with needed historical and research material.

Jeff James, Chief Executive Officer of the British National Archives, praised the special relations between the two sides, and the role of the National Archives of the UAE in utilization modern sophisticated technologies.  He expressed his great optimism about the outcome of this memorandum in terms of exchange of experiences, and cooperation in activities that sponsor and promote cultural exchange, and joint projects.



H.E. Dr. Al Raisi inspected the various sections of the British National Archives, methods of documents and photographs conservation, and modern methods of documentation and archiving.

It is noteworthy that the National Archives of the United Arab Emirates was founded in 1968, and was known as the "National Center for Documentation and Research”.  It is one of the important administrative institutions of the UAE government.  It aims to collect and document the historical records of the UAE and the GCC countries, from local and international sources, to oversee the conservation, restoration, and archiving processes in accordance with international standards, to provide the public access to these documents, and utilize them in cultural and historical awareness.  Accordingly, the NA plans to establish a digitization process to provide access to these documents to all researchers and students, both locally and internationally.

The British National Archives is considered one of the world's most valuable archives in terms of research sources.  It is an independent research organization, an archival institution, a formal British government publisher, and the official protector of most valuable national documents that date back to over a thousand years.  It carries out its role in collecting public records and safeguarding them, whether in paper or electronic form, for future generations, and provides access to them in the greatest extent possible.