New system to guard UAE’s historical materials

The country’s precious historical material is now fully secure thanks to a new state-of-the-art surveillance system.

Store keeper Akbar Ali moves files in the basement of the National Archives where more than six million documents, photographs and video films, relating the history of the UAE, are kept. Stephen Lock Show more

ABU DHABI // The country’s precious historical materials are now fully secure thanks to a state-of-the-art surveillance system.

Designed and set up in the National Archives by the Abu Dhabi-based fire and security engineering firm Telectron, the system provides alarm notifications, round-the-clock visual surveillance and archives all video data.

“In a prestigious application like this one, it is essential that no cameras fail as this would compromise site security and put priceless, irreplaceable artefacts at risk,” said Fadi El Khoury, head of technical support at the National Archives.

“The National Archives are now exceptionally well protected, and any incident or potential risk can be addressed appropriately and immediately.”

The building is responsible for collecting, preserving, researching and documenting the history and heritage of the UAE.

“The archives consist of documents, photographs and video films, among others,” said Rashad Bukhash, director of architectural heritage at Dubai Municipality.

“They are very important because some of them are the only pieces we have. These items are vital because they talk about the history and culture of the UAE itself, so such a security system is necessary in case people break in as footage can be checked.”

The National Archives includes a public, museum-style exhibition, a 600-seat auditorium and large archive storage areas. The entire site is now guarded by hundreds of cameras which can be monitored centrally from a number of remote locations.

“The system we use is a Grundig CCTV system,” said Hani Kobty, technical manager at Telectron.

“In CCTV the brains are not so much in the equipment as in the cameras. They are more in the software and we are utilising some of the best CCTV technology in the market in terms of clarity and quality of the recording as well as the software.” He said that CCTV technology was being placed in almost all public and private sector institutes.

“You can’t always have security guards to monitor every single corner of a premises so CCTV will take care of that for you,” Mr Kobty said.

“The National Archives building contains confidential and historical documents so it’s important to make sure these are protected and monitored from theft – and even fire.

“By watching the footage, you can identify the source of it to avoid its reoccurrence so it helps in so many ways as it gives you an insight of what’s happening when someone isn’t physically there.”

Mr Bukhash said keeping the material safe was paramount for future generations.

“The country is new compared to countries of 200 or 300 years, so it is very important to keep these archives for the generations to come,” he said.

“They will be able to know, through them, about the UAE’s establishment, Sheikh Zayed, Sheikh Rashid and all the Rulers, so keeping them under complete protection and control is essential.”

Last year, the National Archives partnered Google to launch a digital exhibit on the foundation of the country.

It included documents, photos and videos related to the establishment of the UAE 44 years ago, such as the signing of the Independence and Declaration of the Union by Sheikh Zayed, founder of the nation, as well as the first flag-hoisting and stamp collection.