Faya Palaeolandscape advances in its nom. on UNESCO List
Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi spearheads global outreach for Faya's UNESCO nomination
Spearheading global outreach for Faya's ongoing World Heritage nomination is Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi,who serves as the official ambassador of the nomination file. Her role reflects a collective national effort to elevate the property's international status, reinforcing the UAE's leadership in heritage preservation, cultural diplomacy and scientific advancement.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi commented, 'Faya offers one of the oldest and most complete records of early human presence in Arabia, dating back over 210,000 years - a living archive that deepens our understanding of who we are, where we came from, and how we have learned to survive.'
'The Faya Palaeolandscape's nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status highlights the importance of preserving these ancient sites, not only for their historical value but for their potential to educate future generations. As ambassador, I see this nomination as an opportunity to elevate Faya as a shared inheritance for all people around the world', she added, affirming the significance of this nomination in shaping global heritage discourse.
Why Faya matters: A closer look at the landscape
While much of the region has been viewed as a mere transit point for early human migration, interdisciplinary scientific
research and archaeological discoveries conducted by the Sharjah Archaeological Authority (SAA) in collaboration with the University of Tübingen in prehistory studies and Oxford Brookes University for paleoenvironmental studies,
confirmed that the Faya property served as a destination for early human settlement during climatically favourable periods.
The convergence of essential resources—water from springs and wadis, stone raw materials like flint for tool-making, and shelter within the jebels—made sustained occupation possible.
Over the past 30years, scientists have excavated the Faya site, uncovering 18 distinct layers of earth, each representing a different period of human occupation, and providing unprecedented insights into early human migration and adaptation. These game-changing discoveries offer a fresh understanding of human migration from Faya, which holds the most detailed record of ancient human life in Arabia.
From these facets of discovery, which have fully revealed the site's potential to offer a rare and completely intact record of human survival in the face of environmental adversity, Faya's potential Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) has been established.
His Excellency Eisa Yousif, Director of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority (SAA), emphasised: 'The preservation of Faya is deeply anchored in Sharjah's Cultural Heritage Law No. 4 of 2020, which ensures its protection for future generations. Over 30 years of meticulous research and collaboration led by our national mission and experts with international experts have revealed 18 distinct archaeological layers from the Stone Age, bringing to light an intricate history of human evolution, adaptation and survival right here in Sharjah'.
'As we advance Faya's UNESCO World Heritage nomination, it is important to emphasise that our collaborative efforts have made this a global project; one that connects the past with the present more strongly, adding to the rich global corpus of archaeological discoveries. This property, therefore, holds immense value for the world - not just Sharjah and the UAE', he added.
The future of Faya
The UAE has developed a comprehensive management plan for the Faya Palaeolandscape, which will guide its conservation, research, and visitor engagement from 2024 to 2030. This plan aligns with UNESCO's World Heritage standards, ensuring that the site is preserved while also allowing for continued exploration and education.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
13 hours ago
- Zawya
From genome to action: Building Sierra Leone's next generation of genomic leaders for public health resilience beyond mpox
Sierra Leone has taken an important step in strengthening its public health system by hosting a two-week national workshop on DNA sequencing and bioinformatics from August 4 to August 15, 2025 in Freetown. The training, held under the theme 'From Genome to Action: Enhancing Mpox Surveillance through Sequencing and Bioinformatics in Sierra Leone,' was supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). It focused on building the country's capacity to track and understand diseases through genomic science, with mpox as a key focus, but also extending to other infectious diseases. The training served as a mentorship program for 16 young scientists, 15 of whom had already received foundational genomics training with WHO support. This advanced phase transitioned them to mid-level genomic experts capable of sophisticated data analysis and interpretation to inform real-time public health interventions. The sessions were practical and hands-on, covering: DNA sequencing: learning how to read and understand genetic material using Illumina platforms. Bioinformatics analysis: interpreting genetic information to see how diseases spread and change. Data stewardship: submitting results to international databases to support global knowledge. Outbreak analytic: turning genetic information into actions that help control outbreaks. The comprehensive program went beyond mpox, also covering diseases like Ebola, COVID-19, Lassa fever, HIV, and antimicrobial resistance. It also introduced broader tools that allow scientists to study different types of pathogens at once. Already, the Central Public Health Reference Laboratory (CPHRL) is applying these skills in HIV-2 research. 'This is mentorship in motion. We're growing future genomic leaders from within,' said Doris Harding, Laboratory Lead at the National Public Health Agency (NPHA). As of August 18, 2025, Sierra Leone had sequenced 10.1% (522 out of 5,154) of its confirmed mpox cases, meeting both national and continental targets of 8–10%. This progress shows how far the country has come, but also highlights the need to maintain momentum. By training participants from start to finish - sample collection to reporting, the workshop not only boosted mpox surveillance but also set the stage for sustainable genomic monitoring systems. 'This is sustainability in action – building resilient systems by empowering the laboratory pillar,' emphasized Dr. Ameh George, WHO Representative to Sierra Leone. Participants shared how the training had impacted them: 'We are deeply grateful for this investment in capacity building. The opportunity has not only enriched our professional knowledge but has also given us confidence to contribute meaningfully to research and health systems,' said Abu Bakarr Sawaneh from Connaught lab. Vidalyn Folorunso, a Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer from CPHRL added, 'Let us keep practicing, applying the knowledge gained, and making good use of it in our institutions.' Allan Campbell, CPHRL Lead&DNA Sequencing Training Lead, highlighted the lasting benefits: 'This mentorship-driven model not only meets today's needs but also builds a pipeline of future genomic experts. By empowering local scientists with the ability to lead using data and speed, Sierra Leone is strengthening its role in regional and global health security—whether in Mpox, HIV, cancer, antimicrobial resistance, or Ebola.' Walter Oguta, WHO AFRO EPI Analytics Specialist&Bioinformatics Training Lead, underscored the bigger picture: 'The workshop was a pivotal step in embedding genomic science into Sierra Leone's health system. By training a new generation of scientists, the country is now better positioned to respond to outbreaks with data-driven precision.' The August 2025 workshop stands as a milestone in Sierra Leone's public health journey. By combining mentorship, advanced training, and a focus on sustainability, it has built a new generation of scientists ready to lead the country's response to present and future health threats. This effort marks the beginning of a stronger, data-driven foundation for health security in Sierra Leone. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization - Sierra Leone.
Middle East Eye
7 days ago
- Middle East Eye
Bacterial infections resistant to multiple drugs are widespread in Gaza, study finds
Diseases resistant to antibiotics are prevalent across Gaza amid Israel's war and blockade across the territory, according to new analysis. A new peer-reviewed research comment published by the medical journal The Lancet on Tuesday analysed 1,300 specimens collected in al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City between November 2023 and August 2024. The study defined multidrug resistance as a bacterium that could not be killed by at least one drug in three or more classes of antibiotics. Analysis found that 66.9 percent of assessed samples were found to be multidrug resistant. The antibiotics the bacteria were resistant to included amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefuroxime and cefotaxime. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters It also found that resistance to two particular antibiotics, ceftriaxone and ceftazidime, was high in bacteria found growing in infected wounds. The presence of MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is resistant to several antibiotics, was detected in some samples. A horrible picture It marks the first study since Israel's genocide in Gaza began in October 2023 to suggest a prevalence of multidrug resistant bacteria in the enclave. 'This will mean longer and more serious illnesses and a high risk of transmission to others. It means an increased risk of death from really common infections. It means more amputations. It's a horrible picture,' Krystel Moussally, epidemiology adviser to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), told the Guardian. Al-Ahli hospital is one of the only facilities in Gaza where a microbiology laboratory is still functional. Israel-Palestine war: More people could die from disease than bombs in Gaza, says WHO Read More » Israel has imposed a near-total blockade on food and humanitarian aid into Gaza since March, including the entry of medical supplies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday called on Israel to allow it to restock urgently needed medical supplies before an Israeli plan to 'take over' Gaza City worsened an already 'catastrophic' situation. Over half of the Gaza health system's medicines are running at zero stock, according to Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO's representative in occupied Palestine. Peeperkorn said Israel's 'cumbersome procedures' had prevented the entry of vital medicines into Gaza. He said only half of hospitals and 38 percent of primary health care centres were operating partially. No facility is operating at full functionality. Peeperkorn added that bed occupancy had reached 240 percent capacity at al-Shifa hospital, the largest medical facility in Gaza, and 300 percent at al-Ahli hospital. The authors of the Lancet report said that the international medical community had a 'duty to act' to respond to the crisis. 'First and foremost, health-care workers and governments worldwide must advocate for the cessation of the Israeli military invasion that has resulted in a surge of trauma injuries and the widespread deliberate targeting of hospitals, laboratories, and water desalination plants,' they wrote. 'Without this ceasefire, the infection burden will escalate further.' The authors added that laboratories that are still functional should be stabilised, and that drug supply should be coordinated across aid agencies and donors, 'so that the antimicrobial response is tailored to the documented need of hospitals'.
What's On
15-07-2025
- What's On
Everything to know about Sharjah's Faya Palaeolandscape, newly added to UNESCO's World Heritage List
The United Arab Emirates is abuzz with a brand new milestone – a new entrant into UNESCO's World Heritage List: Sharjah's Faya Palaeolandscape, a site hiding mysteries from 200,000 years ago. Announced during the 47th annual session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, this desert site has been inscribed in the list for its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), displaying some of the earliest records of human presence in the arid desert environments. Faya Palaeolandscape is located in the central region of Sharjah, presenting as a spectacular, rolling desert landscape, and the first desert Paleolithic site to cement a place on the World Heritage List. Faya was the only nomination from the Arab region this year, a historic moment for not just the UAE but for the wider community, and marks the second site in the UAE to be included in the list; the first were the Cultural Sites of Al Ain, which were inscribed in 2011. The history What's incredible about Faya is not just the sheer scale of the history it represents, but also the state in which the tangible remains were unearthed – well-preserved, and ready to tell stories about what life in the region looked like thousands of years ago. The site is located between the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea and preserves evidence of human life and occupation from the Middle Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods (210,000–6,000 years ago). The layers of archaeological finds – 18 to be exact- reveal how hunter-gatherers and pastoralists adapted to the extreme cyclic climate of the region, alternating between arid and rainy periods every 20,000 years, as is the natural course of the Earth's climate cycle. That's why we have contrasting periods like the sweltering era of the dinosaurs and the Ice Age. Beyond subsistence activities, the earliest groups of humans made use of the site's geomorphological features for extraction of resources. The site provides evidence of diverse water sources of presence of raw materials, and is a testament to the power of human resilience in the face of hyper-arid environments. Why is Faya important? The discovery and recognition of such a site points a new direction for the global perception of prehistoric existence in the Arabian Peninsula, as well as it's role in charting the journey of the earliest man out of Africa. It proves to be a significant regional contribution in what the world knows about its own history, and revealing something unique about the desert – once viewed simply as migratory corridors, areas of constant movement, Faya has been identified as site for repeated human settlement. The future of Faya Over the past three decades, the Sharjah Archaeology Authority has been conducting excavations on the site, in collaboration with leading international institutions such as the University of Tübingen and Oxford Brookes University. Now, looking to the future, the UAE and Sharjah have unveiled a 2024–2030 management and conservation plan for the site, aiming to preserve Faya's Outstanding Universal Value while keeping the curiosity alive with continued research, community engagement, and sustainable tourism. Faya also holds a long-standing place in UNESCO's Human Evolution, Adaptations, Dispersals and Social Developments (HEADS) Programme, alongside internationally significant sites like the Klasies River Caves in South Africa. @jebelfaya Images: UNESCO World Heritage > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
