My name is Esam Shashaa, born in Dubai city in the United Arab Emirates on 21 February 1968.

My family roots can be traced in Gaza city in the Gaza Strip for more than 700 years. My father left Gaza for Kuwait in 1961 when he was 22-years-old to seek work to support his family back home in Palestine and to build his future. He worked as a schoolteacher in Ajman city (which later became part of the United Arab Emirates), on the Kuwaiti educational team assigned to start the educational system in Ajman, Dubai and Sharjah. In 1972 when the seven Emirates united in a new state called United Arab Emirates, my father joined the UAE ministry of education and served his next 30+ years in Dubai city. Later on in the early 1980's we relocated to Sharjah city. In 1967 when he was in Ajman (with my mother and three of my brothers), the 1967 war broke out and Israel took control of Gaza Strip and other Palestinian land, my father and other family members with him lost there Palestinian National ID's and since we did not have National ID's, we were not allowed to live in Gaza city or even go there for any reason, unless we applied for a Visa from the Israeli government and many times our applications had been rejected. My father remained in Sharjah city until the year 1999 when he retired and was able to return home (Gaza city, Palestine) to spend the rest of his life there.

Myself, I've lived my life in UAE and studied at the UAE University in 1985 in Al-Ain city. In 1989 I was awarded my degree in Business Administration and Accounts with Honors and Recognition. Since then (1989) I joined a new establishment, a can making company in Sharjah as an accountant and was promoted as Finance and Administration Manager. I am happily married to my wife, who is also from Gaza City, Palestine and have three son's that was born on the 15th of March in 1999, 7th of July 2002 and 8th of October 2004.

I have always been interested in Computers (I got my first computer in 1987) and since 1990 I have been involved in local BBS and the on-line community. As soon as Internet services started in UAE in August 1995, I experienced for the first time the real world of the on-line community, which was a real change in my life.

I started my first site about computer programs in 1996. After few months I got an e-mail from another Palestinian who suggested I invest my time in more useful work and build a site about Palestine. I liked the idea and curious to see what I can come up with, I started to collect as much data as I could on the subject, review all this data and then attempt to put it all together into a site. After a few years, the minimal work I started with is now a huge collection of encyclopedic references and articles about the HISTORY of PALESTINE, which is recognized by the media world, such as CNN, BBC News and The Times. My site is used as a reference to the history of Palestine, to teach people of all backgrounds about Palestine and it's history. I have received many compliments, feedback and comments from all over the world, to my surprise even from some Israeli nationals who have commented about the fairness I use in my work when describing matters of all sides. Therefore, the site is regularly updated with information to keep visitors and regular readers interested and up to date.

I thank you for taking the time to browse my site and find out more about the History of Palestine, as well as the site's author and creator. If you need more information, have comments or suggestions, please e-mail me using the link below.

Yours,

Esam Shashaa