Dr. Ahmed Abdullah Al Ali, Assistant Professor at Canadian University Dubai, Founder and Chairman of the Arabic Leadership & Foresight Agency, and Researcher Nabeel Al Salem, signed their book, The UAE (History – People – Civilization), at the book-signing pavilion during the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. This book represents their first collaborative effort in scientific and academic research.
The book explores the most prominent historical milestones that the UAE has passed through, from the dawn of history to its ascent into space. It is considered a “golden encyclopedia” for its comprehensive approach, which links the concept of geographical location with history, starting from before Christ, passing through multiple stages up to the establishment of the Union—a turning point that embodies the meaning of unity and the resulting development and progress. The book is considered one of the most important contemporary additions to the Arabic library, comprising twenty-three chapters and spanning 470 large-format pages.
Dr. Ahmed Abdullah Al Ali stated that the book, The UAE – History – People – Civilization, required years of effort, research, writing, review, and verification of all documented information from multiple sources. The book delves into the UAE’s ancient history and rich civilization, evidenced by archaeological findings across the ages. He cited foreign exploration campaigns that discovered the Gulf region, particularly the Emirates, attracted the attention of numerous ancient civilizations due to its location on the trade routes linking the East and the West. The Babylonian, Greek, Roman, and Islamic civilizations all had a clear presence, with artifacts indicating the area’s transformation into a center for trade exchange and cultural diversity, which propelled its continuous development and prosperity throughout history.
Dr. Ahmed Al Ali added that The UAE (History – People – Civilization) transitions between chapters with a smooth style and a scientific academic methodology, relying on primary and secondary sources to document information through footnotes. It uses simple vocabulary to help the reader maintain engagement and enjoy the sequence of events. Crucially, the book covers all stages the region passed through, clarifying geographical and historical site definitions, linking them to the people, and detailing how they adapted to the available conditions during those eras. He concluded that the expanded research methodology across all levels aims to make the Gulf region and the Emirates an “open book” from which readers can benefit and researchers and students of knowledge can draw in various fields.