The UAE is celebrating a landmark in heritage preservation with the addition of Sharjah’s Faya Palaeolandscape to the UNESCO World Heritage List. This makes it the country’s second site to receive the prestigious global designation, after Al Ain’s cultural sites were listed in 2011.
The recognition not only reinforces the country’s cultural standing on the world stage but also opens up a new destination that combines science, history, and learning, right in the heart of Sharjah.
Recognised under the Cultural Landscape category, Faya is now the first-ever desert Palaeolithic site to be included by UNESCO in its World Heritage List. Located in Sharjah’s central region, the site holds evidence of human presence dating back over 200,000 years, offering a rare window into early human adaptation in arid environments.
This achievement follows more than 30 years of archaeological work led by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, alongside global academic institutions such as the University of Tübingen and Oxford Brookes University. Findings from the site include ancient stone tools and 18 distinct archaeological layers, shedding light on early migration routes and survival strategies.
Sharjah submitted the official nomination in February 2024 after 12 years of preparation. Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the official ambassador for Faya’s nomination file, said the listing affirms the emirate’s vital place in the story of human history and highlights the region’s deep-rooted cultural identity.
The UAE and Sharjah have jointly launched a robust management and conservation plan to ensure the site’s protection, with a strong focus on research, public education, and sustainable tourism.