Culture & Education | Sunday 17 May, 2015 12:00 am |

The GCC General Secretariat of the Documentation and Studies Centers, during its 29th meeting held today at the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre of Gulf Studies, welcomed the admission of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center as a new member of the Secretariat.
The move underscores the importance of the role played by Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center in collecting and documenting the national heritage of the United Arab Emirates. It is also considered an opportunity to review the potential of joint action and exchange of experiences and expand the scope of future cooperation.
The Center was represented at the meeting by Dr. Amina Al Dhaheri, Director of Research and Studies, who actively participated in the discussions. Voting on the formation of a supreme body to prepare the agenda of the General Secretariat was conducted during the meeting, and Dr. Amina Al Dhaheri was chosen to represent the UAE in this body.
Commenting on her participation, Dr. Al Dhaheri said: "I would like to extend my thanks to the Secretariat for opening its door for the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center to be an active member in this outstanding Gulf coalition."
"This is the second time the Center is participating in the Secretariat meeting, as we had earlier attended the meeting held in Bahrain last year as a guest member and had, on that occasion, requested admission to the Secretariat General. Today, we officially join this esteemed body. We are confident of fruitful and sustained cooperation among members of the Secretariat, and we look forward to benefiting from the experiences of countries and organizations that have preceded us in this area, just as the Center will represent a distinctive addition to their experience in the field of history, heritage and archiving," she added.
For his part, Dr. Ali Ibrahim Al Marri, Director General of the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre of Gulf Studies, and Secretary General of the GCC General Secretariat of the Documentation and Studies Centers, said: "The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center has been recognized for its considerable efforts to preserve and maintain the heritage of the United Arab Emirates. We rejoice when we see an organization supporting history and heritage in the Gulf region, especially in the UAE. The existence of the Center within the General Secretariat is a huge gain for us, as everyone learns from the experiences of others, and the Center brings unparalleled knowledge and expertise in the field of history, research, and heritage conservation."
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About Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center:
Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center is the reliable source and reference for the conservation of national heritage in the United Arab Emirates. Its vision focuses on the promotion of the Emirati national heritage and communicating it to the young generation at regional and global levels.
In addition, the Center organizes events and competitions as well as conducts heritage studies and specialized research for the preservation and documentation of the UAE's national heritage. It also provides traditional sources and references for researchers and interested parties, including all members of the community.
The Center serves as a platform for all initiatives, tournaments and activities on the country's heritage conceptualized by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. It seeks to consolidate the cultural Emirati heritage and be valued by the new generation. The Center also promotes awareness about the UAE's values, customs and traditions inherent society, as well as activates young Emirati participation in the maintenance of their national identity.