Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Documents, footage, photographs and transcripts from the past are more than records of nostalgia. Preserving them is safeguarding historical truth for future generations — ensuring that, even decades on, the truth remains intact and supported by evidence, experts said.
Archives, they said, help facilitate justice and strengthen accountability.
“Archives are not only a source of scientific information or a resource for researchers and students,” said Dr Hasan Abdulla Al Mesaabi, Technical Expert at the National Library and Archives (NLA). “They are — and probably more significantly — a means of documenting people’s rights.”
A seminar hosted by NLA for International Archives Week, observed from June 8 to 12, sharpened the focus on the importance of proper documentation and safekeeping of these records.
Dr Hamad Al Mutairi, Acting Executive Director of the National Library and Archives (NLA), stressed that archival work not only preserves national memory, but also advances institutional development.
Archives serve as historical evidence that can support the pursuit of justice. This link is reflected in the collaboration between the Ministry of Justice and the NLA.
Khalid Nasser Al Raisi, Adviser to the Minister of Justice, said the two entities work together to strengthen records management, transparency and digital transformation.
Dr Al Mesaabi emphasised that records are fundamental to protecting rights and ensuring accountability — be it in matters of national concern or civil affairs. He said these are particularly important in areas such as property ownership, employment and marriage.
“There is a well-known saying: ‘It is not what you know; it is what you can prove,’” he said.
Reem Al Zaabi, Electronic Archiving Officer at the NLA, agreed that archives do support justice — and, importantly, they “build a bridge between the past, the present, and the future”, she said.
Recognising the value of these records, the NLA also ensures that the public can easily access them. The institution’s Arabian Gulf Digital Archives (AGDA) platform, for example, provides free online access to historical documents.
Dr Al Mesaabi said modern technologies have transformed preservation practices and improved access to historical materials.
Artificial intelligence now supports tasks such as indexing, classification, digitisation and document processing. Further advancements in technology, he said, could unlock even greater possibilities, making archival work more efficient and strengthening its role in supporting justice.
