Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (WAM)
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was briefed on Tuesday on the key initiatives and future projects of the Federal Geographic Information Centre (FGIC). During the briefing, which took place at Qasr Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi, His Highness was presented with a copy of the UAE’s ‘General Map’ in both Arabic and English.
Officials from the Federal Geographic Information Centre outlined a number of key initiatives undertaken since the establishment of the Centre, including the Union Atlas, a pioneering project that provides a database of reliable spatial geographic and statistical information. Intended to benefit various sectors across the country, particularly in the areas of education, health, the economy, and environment, the Union Atlas also highlights the achievements of the UAE and explores its history and cultural heritage.
Other FGIC projects covered in the briefing included the National Geospatial Features Catalogue, which assigns definitions and codes to every geographic feature within the national spatial framework.
During the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed noted the Centre’s vital role in enhancing the UAE’s development plans through its provision of a foundational geographic information system and detailed spatial data covering regions across the country. His Highness also highlighted the Centre's contribution to standardising the criteria and specifications for such information in collaboration with its strategic partners.
The President commended the Centre and its staff for supporting scientific research on the economic, geographic, and social aspects of the UAE, and for providing an official reference for all spatial geographic information across the country.
The delegation, who included His Excellency Dr Khalifa Al Rumaithi, Chairman of the Centre's Board of Directors, and Hamed Al Kaabi, the General Manager of the Centre, expressed their appreciation for the UAE leadership’s role in supporting the Centre's projects and national initiatives that serve various sectors throughout the country.
