Dubai: Preserving the UAE’s rich culture and heritage and benefiting interested researchers in the country is an ambition for both the Juma Al Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage and the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Heritage Centre.
The two centres, who joined forces yesterday and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which aims to safeguard and promote the culture and heritage of the UAE, set future targets they both believe will create a new platform for the exchange of knowledge and expertise. Speaking at a press conference, Juma Al Majid, chairman of the Juma Al Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage, said that the goal of creating the joint venture was to achieve the mutual goals that both centres share.
“This agreement will strengthen the research and development of the culture and heritage of the UAE. It will provide valuable assistance to researchers as well as collectors who are interested in the country’s historical background, and inspire the community to get involved in its preservation and dissemination,” said Al Majid.
He added that anyone who owns artefacts dating from previous generations, even if it is a simple piece of paper, should approach either centre in order for them to archive it.
“We do not wish to claim ownership of family heirlooms and personal articles. Our mission is to help in appropriately archiving all such items in order to benefit the greater community and educate people about the UAE’s rich past,” Al Majid said.
Abdullah Bin Dalmook, CEO of the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Heritage Centre, who signed the MoU with Al Majid, said: “This agreement is an important step that will benefit the entire society and will serve as the foundation for cooperation. It will also allow us to recognise common goals that will foster the development of the UAE’s national identity.”
Bin Dalmook also pointed out the importance of sharing and exchanging information with researchers and also following up with anything new the centres receive relevant to the culture and heritage of the UAE. He also mentioned the new radio station that his centre launched ten days ago.
“The radio station we launched will focus on sharing information about the Emirati culture and heritage. For nine hours every day, we focus on only broadcasting material that would raise awareness and increase community engagement in the UAE’s rich legacy,” he said.
During a Q&A session, Al Majid highlighted the success Juma Al Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage has achieved over the years, which he believes completes the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to position the UAE as the global leader in all fields.
“The centre has become a pioneer organisation for preserving the UAE’s culture and heritage. On an average, we print 10,000 ancient manuscripts every day from all over the world, demonstrating our credibility and reputation among researchers worldwide. Additionally, we are now researching scientific developments that would ensure ease of access of information for researchers, collectors and the community as a whole,” he added.
