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Dubai Culture puts spotlight on UAE postal history

DUBAI, January 28, 2017

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the emirate's dedicated entity for culture, arts and heritage, has opened an exhibition dedicated to the Emirate’s postal history – ‘Emirates to the World: Postal History from 1909 to Unification.’

It is the first exhibition to be hosted by the Etihad Museum since opening its doors to the public, and will run till April 30 with many related events and activities.

The event tells the story of the country’s postal services from its earliest days through to the UAE unification in 1971 and will be showcased through stamps, letters, artworks and archives found in the extraordinary private collection of Abdulla Khoory, the president of Emirates Philatelic Association.

For the purpose of the exhibition, Khoory’s collection has been augmented with objects and images supplied by Emirates Post and a number of other historical archives, said a statement from Dubai Culture.

The exhibition is accompanied by workshops for adults and children who are interested in postal history, letter writing, and the popular subject of philately (stamp collecting).

Abdullah Mohammed Al Falasi, the director of Etihad Museum, said: "We are pleased to introduce our first exhibition at Etihad Museum, which is focused on developing national awareness and understanding of the UAE’s history, and encouraging the exchange of academic knowledge between students, experts and all members of society."

"With this exhibition, the museum will provide an essential historical resource for younger UAE generations, residents and visitors," he noted.

The exhibition begins at the birth of the emirates' local postal services in 1909, when written letters first became a trusted and efficient mean of communication.

Thanks to its breadth and completeness, Khoory’s collection captures much of this fascinating period and offers visitors a glimpse back into an era that had not yet seen the dawn of digital communication, or even the unification of the emirates.  

Al Falasi pointed out that the evolution of the UAE’s postal services reflects the story of the nation’s growth, in which communication has played a vital role by strengthening the country’s internal discourse while also connecting it with the wider world.

The exhibition run has already featured an engaging panel discussion hosted by Abdullah Khoory, who shared personal thoughts about philately and his unique postal collection, which dates back to the early twentieth century and includes stamps from across the seven Emirates.  

The Etihad Museum is open from 10am to 8pm, seven days a week and all-year-round. Admission fees range from Dh25 for ages 25 and above, Dh20 per person for group bookings and Dh10 for ages 5 to 24.

Children under five years enjoy free entry and there is no admission fee for visitors with special needs. The museum also offers specially-designed NOL cards for Dh35.

Located on Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach, Etihad Museum is situated beneath Union House – the historic location where the Union Agreement was signed in 1971.

In addition to immersing themselves in UAE heritage at the exhibition, visitors will also be able to enjoy reading books at the Dubai Public Library branch within the museum, which holds three thousand different titles on the UAE’s national and social history.-TradeArabia News Service




Tags: UAE | Dubai Culture |

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