Secretary-General of the NAQ and Chair of the Memory of the World Committee for the Arab Region under Unesco H E Dr Ahmed Abdullah Al Buainain and other participants during the event.
DOHA: The National Archives of Qatar (NAQ) has established itself as a distinguished model in safeguarding Arab collective memory and protecting documentary heritage, underscoring Qatar’s growing leadership in cultural preservation and archiving excellence.
This came during a special event organised by NAQ yesterday in Doha to mark Arab Document Day, which is celebrated annually on October 17.
The celebration brought together a distinguished group of specialists and experts in documentation and archiving, representatives of national and Arab entities, as well as academics, researchers, and heritage enthusiasts. Their strong turnout reflected a growing awareness of the document’s role in preserving history and strengthening identity.
The event comes as part of the leading role played by NAQ in safeguarding national memory and fostering Arab cooperation in documentation.
It aligns with its 2025–2030 strategy, launched under the slogan “Memory of the Future”, which aims to build a comprehensive national system for document preservation while integrating authenticity with modern international standards.
Addressing the event, NAQ Secretary-General and Chair of the Memory of the World (MoW) Committee for the Arab Region under Unesco, Dr. Ahmed Abdullah Al Buainain said that Arab Document Day is an opportunity to renew the region’s commitment to protecting its memory and documentary heritage.
He highlighted that documents are witnesses to human development, bridges between past and present, and sources of inspiration for the future. Al Buainain said: “Qatar has made document protection a key part of its vision for sustainable development and digital transformation. The NAQ plays a pivotal role in this through its 2025–2030 strategy, which aims to build an integrated national system for document preservation, blending authenticity with modern international standards.”
Minister Plenipotentiary and Director of the Information and Documentation Department at the Office of the Secretary-General of the Arab League H E Dr. Hala Gad praised the efforts of Qatar, represented by the NAQ, for hosting this event and for its continued support of Arab documentary work.
She said NAQ has become a distinguished model in preserving Arab memory and protecting documentary heritage.
She highlighted Arab League’s efforts to protect Arab documentary heritage, including the adoption of a unified Arab strategy to recover looted and seized Arab archives held abroad. This strategy, she explained, reflects a collective political will to reclaim Arab memory.
Dr. Gad also stressed the importance of joint Arab efforts to recover this valuable historical heritage and strengthen the national and pan-Arab identity through preserving memory for future generations.
She highlighted the first strategy of NAQ (2025–2030), which aims to strengthen the national documentation system and ensure the sustainable preservation of the historical memory of Qatar and Arab region.
Dr. Gad said the strategy represents a comprehensive roadmap for managing documents and archives by promoting the principles of transparency, supporting sustainable development, and safeguarding national identity.
Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture of Jordan and Vice-Chair of the Memory of the World (MoW) Committee for the Arab Region, H E Dr. Nidal Ibrahim Al-Ahmad emphasised that Arab Document Day is not merely symbolic but a genuine expression of renewed awareness of the Arab world’s collective memory, which embodies the language, values, and shared history that unite Arab nations.
He underlined the importance of strong Arab cooperation in documentation, digitisation, experience exchange, and the development of legislation and policies to protect documents from loss, tampering, or neglect — as well as keeping pace with digital transformation in archiving.
Dr. Al-Ahmad praised NAQ’s pioneering role in protecting Arab documentary heritage, advancing archiving and digitisation systems, and fostering a collaborative environment that enriches Arab joint action.
He called for continued cooperation among Arab countries to ensure: “Our heritage remains preserved, our memory vibrant, and our identity alive and renewed.”
The event included a specialised seminar titled “The Manuscript and the Document: Arab Memory in Global Archives”, with the participation of a number of researchers and experts from academic institutions and archival entities across the Arab world.
