UAE to host International Council on Archives Congress next year

Preparations to host the International Council on Archives Congress in Abu Dhabi next year are under way. The ICA Congress will run from November 16-20 under the theme ‘Empowering Knowledge Communities’. It will be the first time the event, which takes place every four years, is held in the Middle East and it will be organised by the UAE’s National Archives. More than 3,000 archivists and record management professionals from around the world are expected to attend. The four-day event will include lectures, panel discussions and workshops on ways to preserve and document history, culture and heritage in the face of climate change, theft and trafficking. Through the ICA 2020 Congress, the UAE’s National Archives aims to promote Emirati culture and preserve the nation’s heritage. The theme was chosen to promote interdisciplinary thinking and explore emerging technologies and strategies within the scope of the International Council on Archives. The National Archives, a member of the ICA, contributes to the preservation of the records and archival collections. The ICA Congress provides the professionals in the field of archiving and its related information areas with the prospects of researching the implications of the use of modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, examining the role of archives in maintaining sustainable development, providing evidence and ensuring future information security. The previous congress was held in Seoul, North Korea.