Union Narrative UAE: National Committee Reviews Work Plan And Draft Document

The National Committee for the UAE Union Narrative has begun work as the main reference on the state’s founding story, holding its first meeting in Abu Dhabi. Members discussed how to document key events that led to the establishment of the United Arab Emirates and how to ensure that this approved version guides media, educational and cultural content nationwide.

The body was created following a resolution issued in December last year by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. The resolution established the National Committee for the UAE Union Narrative and tasked it with preparing an official document that records, in chronological order, the events surrounding the formation of the Union.

During the inaugural meeting, chaired by Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi at the Presidential Court, the committee reviewed practical steps to carry out its mandate. Members examined how to compile the Union Narrative document using approved terminology, verified historical references and a clear sequence of events. They also discussed coordination among participating entities to ensure shared responsibility for the project.

The committee’s scope extends beyond drafting the document itself. It will endorse all national campaigns linked to the Union and state symbols before launch, confirming that their content aligns with the approved narrative. The committee will also check that media material, educational curricula, cultural programmes and printed publications reflect the same historically accurate account.

Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi explained that forming the committee under the guidance of the leadership shows a clear commitment to one unified historical reference about the establishment of the United Arab Emirates. The goal is to protect historical accuracy and avoid conflicting interpretations when addressing the founding moment of the state and its principal symbols in any public content.

Al Zaabi stressed that the Union Narrative is intended as more than a record of past events. He described it as a comprehensive national framework that shapes how the story of the Union appears in media, schools, cultural productions and nationwide campaigns. It is designed to guide how current and future generations in the UAE learn about the origins of the Union.

Work approach and structure of the UAE Union Narrative project

The Chairman stated that the committee’s role is to consolidate history in its verified form rather than rewrite it. The narrative will be expressed in unified and clear language based on credible sources and detailed historical research. Once completed, the official Union Narrative document will become the primary reference for any content that addresses how the state was established.

Al Zaabi highlighted that the committee includes representatives from federal and local entities, reflecting the state’s focus on partnership when shaping a single national account. The committee will work in a coordinative and approving manner, seeking accuracy and consistency while avoiding unnecessary complexity. Scheduled reviews will consider new reliable research yet preserve core principles that are not open to reinterpretation.

Committee members shared their views on the importance of the National Committee for the UAE Union Narrative and its role in supporting a unified, well-documented account of the Union. They noted that participation from all represented bodies will strengthen the quality of the final document and help ensure that every institution refers to the same authorised narrative when presenting the history of the Union.

The meeting also discussed the committee’s work plan through 2026. A key item is the project to prepare the official Union Narrative document, presented by Abdullah Majid Al Ali, Director-General of the National Archives and Library. The presentation outlined the concept of a state narrative, international case studies, tools to embed the narrative and the research structure and specialist teams assigned to the project.

Attendees from federal and local entities took part in the first meeting of the National Committee for the UAE Union Narrative, as shown below.

According to its terms of reference, the National Committee for the UAE Union Narrative serves as the only approved source for the history of the UAE’s formation. It is responsible for documenting events that preceded and accompanied the declaration of the Union, drafting the official narrative and aligning national, media and educational content with it, while clearly reflecting the central role of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in founding and strengthening the Union.

With inputs from WAM