Celebrating its 40th Anniversary
CDR organizes an international conference
On UAE History
November 11th, 2008,
Adu Dhabi
Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, President of the Center for Documentation and Research (CDR), the CDR will inaugurate its 40th anniversary celebrations by convening an International History Conference from the 23rd to the 25th of November 2008.
The conference titled “New Perspectives On Recording UAE History” will be held in Abu Dhabi at the CDR premises with eminent national and international archaeologists and historians participating. Papers covering different aspects of the history of the UAE from the prehistoric period until the establishment of the Federation of the UAE in 1971, will be presented in five panels.
Panel I – “Prehistoric roots of the UAE: from the Stone Age to the Pre-Islamic Period”
Panel II – “The Islamic Period: socio-economic transformations in the Arabian Gulf”
Panel III – “Arrival of the Europeans: Portuguese, Dutch and British eras”
Panel IV – “Society and economy in the Emirates during the pre-oil era”
Panel V “Emergence of the UAE Federation”
Dr. Abdulla El Reyes, CDR Director General and Chairman of the Higher Committee, organizing the celebrations and the conference, stated that under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the CDR is committed to preserving and promoting UAE history and its centuries-old rich culture and heritage. He further added that the Center is mobilizing all its resources to seek a better understanding of the Emirates’ history since time immemorial.
Every nation has its own history and civilization which needs to be explored, researched and documented for the benefit of posterity by using scientific research tools, remarked Dr. El Reyes.
The Director General of the CDR went on to say, “We have chosen for our conference the significant title, “New Perspectives on Recording UAE History”, which encompasses a unique and multi-faceted theme shedding fresh light on UAE history and that of the Arabian Gulf in general. Our basic concern is to view the past from new angles and achieve a better understanding of the behavior and patterns of life of the people who lived in the region of the Emirates thousands of years ago.”
“The new technologies used in archaeological excavations have brought about a revolution in our dealings with the past. A careful scientific examination and analysis of the remains from the past are daily revealing useful and enlightening information which are helping to widen the scope of history and reconstruct classical concepts in light of fresh evidences. This in the long run will help fill the gaps in the local, regional and world historical records. Moreover, it will open new avenues for fresh research and interpretation of past phenomena”, added Dr. El Reyes.
In conclusion, the CDR Director General said, “The study of history from various perspectives is now a matter of vital importance as it helps highlight the development of societies and nations, as well as the rise, decline and fall of kingdoms and empires. In the case of the Emirates and the Gulf region in general, the book of history remains open to absorb the great endeavors of historians, archaeologists, paleontologists, and also significant contributions from different disciplines as history is no longer a monopoly of historians.”
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