Abu Dhabi, 29 Jan, 2009 (WAM) – Emirates Post has issued animation stamps to mark the 40th anniversary of the National Centre for Documentation and Research (NCDR), the nation’s custodian of information and research. The stamps are in denominations of AEDh 1, AE Dhs 4 and AE Dhs 10.
The AED 10 animation stamp carries multidimensional images of five UAE leaders: the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and General H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The AED 4 stamp carries an image of the Union House, and the AED 1 features a photograph of the Centre.
“The National Centre for Documentation and Research enjoys high reputation as the nation’s keeper of official records in a scientific manner, using modern technology. It is an invaluable source of information to researchers and all those interested in the history and development of the UAE,” said Ibrahim Bin Karam, CEO of Emirates Post. “Emirates Post is pleased to salute this important organization through these special stamps.” Abdullah El Reyes, Director General of the Center, said: “We appreciate Emirates Post’s gesture in honouring the Centre with these stamps on the occasion of 40 years of key contribution. This development coincides with the upgrading of the Centre into the National Centre for Documentation and Research under Decree No. 7 of 2008, issued by the President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“The National Centre for Documentation and Research embodies the ideas of the late Sheikh Zayed who attached great importance to preservation of culture and heritage. He believed that all Emirati children should get have access to the past achievements of their forefathers. The Centre’s success would not have been possible without the support of Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed, Minister for Presidential Affairs and Head of the Centre.” The National Centre for Documentation and Research (NCDR) stores millions of documents, thus serving as the custodian of history and official data of the nation, a reliable source of information for researchers and decision makers.
Established in 1968 in Abu Dhabi, NCDR was being supervised by different official bodies, and is now affiliated to the Ministry of Presidential Affairs. The oldest and largest documentation center in the Arabian Gulf collects and documents written and oral material on the UAE in particular, and the Arabian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula in general.
The NCDR is member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Council on Archives (ICA), the International Federation for Libraries and Information (IFLA), the Secretariat General of the Documentation and Research Centers of the Gulf Cooperation Council. UNESCO has rated the Center as a foremost Arab cultural institution.
The NCDR has Arabic and international archival material categorised under British Archives, American Archives, Portuguese Archives, Ottoman Archives, Persian Archives, French Archives, Dutch Archives and the GCC Archives.
The new NCDR building features Emirates Library, research and training rooms, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Hall which displays rare books and documents, Sheikh Khalifah bin Zayed Auditorium (which has a seating capacity of 700 persons) and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Virtual Reality Theatre (which screens a 20-minute three-dimensional film on the UAE history form ancient times to date).
The NCDR electronic database ranks first in the Middle East and sixth among the world documentation centers using electronic archiving. The Centre is at a decisive moment in its growth, following the issuing of a decree that transformed it into the �National Center for Documentation and Research’ from its earlier name, �Center for Documentation and Research
