The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) launched UAEpedia at GITEX, designed to become the first comprehensive online encyclopedia on the UAE. The website follows an open-source model, allowing the broader public to contribute and modify content.
“We present this achievement to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and to Their Highnesses Rulers of the Emirates,” said Mohamad Nasser Al Ghanim, TRA Director General “We also dedicate it to all citizens, residents and lovers of the UAE. The Encyclopaedia is an embodiment of the principles of a knowledge-based society. It also enhances the principles of participation founded by the builder of our civilization and the founder of our Union the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.” The encyclopedia (UAEPedia.ae) is an initiative of the TRA’s Information and eGovernment Sector. TRA oversees development and implementation of the Federal eGovernment Plan which includes the Encyclopedia.
In its first phase, the UAEPedia is available only in Arabic. Other languages will be added later. Currently, there are nearly 1000 article distributed over 18 main topics such as geography, history, economy, language and literature, and hundreds of sub-topics related to the United Arab Emirates. The Encyclopedia will be useful to researchers, media, students and anyone interested to know more about the UAE.
