Exclusive never-before-seen artefacts and historical photographs showcased in UAE Pavilion

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 1st December, 2011 – The highly anticipated The Union Exhibition, which showcases’ never-before-seen artefacts and historical photographs, was officially opened by His Highness Sheikh Hazaa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor and Vice Chairman of the Executive Council at a grand ceremony last night.

Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Chairperson of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and presented by The National Day Celebrations Committee, The Union Exhibition will open to the public on December 1st.

His Highness Sheikh Hazaa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE's National Security Advisor and Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council has officially launched the Pavilion yesterday. With the attendance of His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and the Chairman of the 40th UAE National Day Celebrations Committee with the presence of HE Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and HE Khaldoun Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority and HE Abdullah Rashed Khalaf Al Otaiba Chairman of the Department of Transport and HE Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili Director General Abu Dhabi Education Council and HE Ahmad Humaid Al Tayer and HE Mubarak Al Muhairi General Manager of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.
The Union Exhibition, hosted in the UAE Pavilion, is a free exhibition designed for Emiratis and expatriates of all ages that has been created especially to mark the nation’s 40th anniversary celebrations. The Pavilion, which is expected to attract more than 5000 visitors, will house a cinema, a photography display from Emirati artists, several never-before-seen collections chronicling Abu Dhabi’s early development and an exclusive model of the pavilion designed by Norman Foster.

Located on Saadiyat Island, next to Manarat Al Saadiyat, the pavilion will be open daily from 12pm – 10pm between the 1st and 20th of December. The insightful exhibitions, which will inform and inspire visitors, will include:

• The Dawn of History: Revealing the Ancient past of Abu Dhabi which will explore Abu Dhabi’s history including the important archaeological work conducted between 1958 and 1972 across the emirate;
• The Birth of the UAE which will explore our nation’s beginning in 1971, including key people and events that helped create the UAE into what we all call home;
• The UAE Today will be an extraordinary exhibition showcasing contemporary photographs of Emiratis and the Emirates as seen through the eyes of Emirati photographers; and
• UAE: The Future which will feature a series of simulating TEDx talks on some of the pressing issues facing the UAE’s development.

The exhibition included 67 rare photos by Ronald Codari reflecting the history and the life in the UAE during the forties and fifties many of which have never before been seen.
As part of the 40th celebratory events, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage secured this rare collection of photos by Ronald Codari of the Arabian Gulf. Codari lived and worked in the area from 1948 to 1955 but often frequented the UAE in later periods capturing accurate images of all aspects of daily life in the Emirates.

To find out more about these events please visit the UAE 40th National Day website at www.uaenationalday.ae or connect with us via UAENationalday.ae/twitter and UAENationalday.ae/facebook.