Doha: HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani has launched the first strategic plan of the Qatar National Archives for the period 2025-2030. The launch event was attended by HE Speaker of the Shura Council, Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, HE Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Qatar National Archives, Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Attiyah, and other notable figures, including ministers, senior officials, ambassadors, government representatives, national institutions, experts, academics, and community members.
According to Qatar News Agency, the event, hosted by media personality Abdulwahab Al Mutawa and renowned Qatari artist Salah Mulla, highlighted the Qatar National Archives’ significant contributions to preserving Qatari documents and heritage. The strategic plan, titled “Memory of the Future,” serves as a bridge between tradition and modernity, aiming to transform historical documents and national archives into a dynamic memory that contributes to future-building through digitization, community awareness, and partnerships.
Secretary-General of the Qatar National Archives, Dr. Ahmed Abdullah Al Buainain, emphasized the strategy’s ambitious objectives and its foundational value for the Archives’ national project, highlighting the importance of collective efforts to achieve its goals by 2030. The strategic plan was developed with inputs from over 80 entities and built on four primary references, including the Qatar National Vision 2030.
The strategy aims to preserve Qatar’s documents, both institutional and international, by collaborating with countries tied to Qatar. It incorporates best practices from other countries in document and archive management and relies on a results-based strategic planning model to ensure effective implementation and track the impact of strategic objectives.
Strategic Expert Saba Al Fadhala explained the strategy’s comprehensive approach, aligning with Qatar National Vision 2030 and emphasizing national identity and documentary heritage. She noted the collaborative nature of the project, involving government entities, institutions, and individuals to ensure a realistic and applicable strategy.
Engineer Yousef Al Shriem, Director of the Technical Office at the Qatar National Archives, outlined four key strategic projects among over 24 initiatives aimed at enhancing the Archives’ capabilities. These projects include the International Documentation Project, Institutional Documentation Project, Community Documentation Project, and the Oral Documentation Project, each focusing on different aspects of preserving and documenting Qatar’s history.
Engineer Dalal Al Shammari, Director of the Information Technology Department, highlighted the technological innovations in the “Memory of the Future” strategy, marked by a research partnership with Microsoft to develop digital solutions for document preservation. Key technological projects include the Press Documentation Project, “Silica” data storage project, and the development of a digital platform for the Archives.
Noura Al Qubaisi, Director of Public Relations and Communication, emphasized the community’s role in the strategy, highlighting the shared responsibility of preserving documentary heritage and fostering a culture of sustainable documentation. The strategy aims to engage the community in the documentation process, reflecting the importance of documents in preserving Qatar’s history and building its future.