From Nabati poetry as a source of history to the creative economy and its developmental aspects in the UAE
The National Library and Archives enrich the new issue of "Liwa" with Sheikh Zayed’s Equestrian and Hunting Trips in the UAE
The National Library and Archives issued the 29th issue of the historical and scientific refereed Liwa journal. This issue is full of Arabic and English research on the UAE’s glorious history and ancient heritage to enrich the knowledge of readers and those interested in the history, heritage and antiquities of the United Arab Emirates, the Arabian Gulf region and the Arabian Peninsula.
The first research in new issue of Liwa is entitled "Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's Equestrianism". It touches on his pioneering role in spreading this sport, which was one of his hobbies, and takes readers on a tour of his stables in the city of Al Ain, the Amiri stables in Abu Dhabi, and the old horse racing tracks in Al Ain. It also sheds light on and Sheikh Zayed's interest in purebred Arabian horses, and researcher Adel Mohammed Al-Amoudi monitors endurance races and the UAE President’s Cup World Series for purebred Arabian horses.
The second research by Dr. Aisha Al Falasi is entitled "Hunting Trips in the UAE: Memories and Events". It confirms that falconry is a cultural heritage that has been passed down through generations throughout history and civilizations and has spread and developed in the Arabian Peninsula. The research sheds light on hunting in Arab culture and in Emirati history. It includes an interview with Ali Musabeh Balqizi, who practiced falconry in the prime of his youth, and subsequently gained a vast experience about falcons, in addition to skills such as patience, wisdom and a spirit of adventure. The research indicates that falconry and its trips are an important part of the UAE's historical march, and this heritage has been added to the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It also indicates that orientalists, in their memoirs, spoke about falconry and their experiences in practicing it with the late leader and founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul.
Within the framework of cultural heritage came the third research entitled "Nabati Poetry as a Source of the History of the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula" by researcher Ali Afifi Ali Ghazi. It reviews the origin of Nabati poetry, its features and purposes, types and importance as a historical source. It sheds light on the interest of Western explorers in collecting and preserving it. The research confirms that Nabati poetry remains an important source for the history of the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula, as it depicts life in the desert and the city and informs us about aspects of life in the Gulf society.
The fourth research, written by Dr. Reda Sharif, documents the history of the "Al-Masaa market from prosperity to demolition". It points out that vendors established the market on both sides of Al-Masaa in Mecca, and it was full of various types of goods, commodities, and service crafts. This market was pulled down following the expansion of the Grand Mosque in Mecca in 1956. The research provided information about the market, its goods, food commodities, and its service crafts. It also enlightened the readers about the activities pilgrims conducted in the market and the Saudi expansion which led to its demolition.
In the fifth research, Dr. Salem bin Abdullah Al-Khalaf traced Tijani’s journey, which began in 1307, and shed light on economic activity in Africa. The research introduced the Tunisian Tijani and his journey, then touched on Africa’s agricultural wealth, water and crops. It also shed light on the livestock, products, markets and internal trade.
Dr. Ahmed Adel Zeidan wrote the sixth research entitled "The Creative Economy and its Developmental Dimensions in the United Arab Emirates". This economic research points out that the cultural and creative industries are currently among the fastest growing industries in the world as a sustainable development option based on a unique and renewable resource, which is human creativity.
The research defined the cultural and creative industries in terms of their origin and development, and their relationship to development, and the creative economy. It also defined the Orange Economy, which means a group of economic activities that combine talent and creativity, and highlighted the factors of creative and cultural industries, their main features, the requirements for their promotion, and their impact on the global economy. It reviewed this sector significance in the United States of America and in Europe.  It also focused on the UAE's interest in this sector, especially in its national strategy for cultural and creative industries.  The research also shed light on the Dubai Strategy for the Creative Economy, and the social, cultural, political and environmental returns of the creative industries.
The new issue of Liwa journal included three papers in English: The Development of Civil Navigation in the Arabian Gulf by Michael Morton, and Dubai's Methodology in Renaissance and Development by Dr. Mohammed Jamal. The third paper written by Dr. Ahmed Adel Zidan is entitled The Creative Economy and its Development Dimensions in the United Arab Emirates".