Faya in Sharjah announced as new UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Faya Palaeolandscape in Sharjah is one of the oldest and most continuous records of early human presence in the world.
It has been recognised for its outstanding universal value and serves as a living document of humanity's existence in arid environments for over 200,000 years.
The intact fossil desert landscape, which has been excavated by scientists over the past 30 years, has 18 distinct archaeological layers of earth, each representing a different period of human activity.
UNESCO has recognised the site as being extremely significant in understanding prehistoric life in southeast Arabia at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris.
Faya (Credit: Supplied)
Faya becomes the second site in the UAE to receive this recognition from the UN's educational, scientific and cultural organisation after the cultural sites of Al Ain were inscribed in 2011.
There are currently 96 UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the region, spanning a total of 18 different countries.
Unlike areas traditionally viewed as corridors for human migration, the decades of research at Fay found that it was repeatedly a place that people settled down to live in.
Sharjah formally submitted the nomination file for Faya to UNESCO in February 2024, after 12 years of preparation for the nomination dossier and the property.
The UNESCO World Heritage List includes 1,226 sites around the world that hold outstanding universal value with exceptional significance and future relevance.
Archaeologists at Faya (Credit: Supplied)
Faya (Credit: Supplied)
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, who serves as the official ambassador for Faya's nomination file, said that the site is of deep cultural significance.
She said: 'The inscription of the Faya Palaeolandscape affirms Sharjah's contribution to the cradle of early human history and highlights the Arabian Peninsula's central role in humanity's journey out of Africa.
'The stone tools found at Faya, over 200,000 years old, are testimony of our ancestors' ingenuity and the deep roots of human cultural tradition in our region.'
Eisa Yousif, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, said: ''The UAE and Sharjah resonate deeply with the UNESCO World Heritage Committee's ethos of the universal belonging of inscribed sites, and we strongly promote free cultural and humanistic exchange even in a world with borders.
'The human race has thrived as a result of the fluidity of movement and free exploration that the old world order allowed us.
'Therefore, we are equally proud and happy to bring Faya Paleolandscape into the fold of the UNESCO World Heritage List, as a result of which it now belongs to all the peoples of the world, just as it did more than 200,000 years ago.'
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Time Out Dubai
2 days ago
- Time Out Dubai
Faya in Sharjah announced as new UNESCO World Heritage Site
A historically significant site in the United Arab Emirates has been added to the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site list. The Faya Palaeolandscape in Sharjah is one of the oldest and most continuous records of early human presence in the world. It has been recognised for its outstanding universal value and serves as a living document of humanity's existence in arid environments for over 200,000 years. The intact fossil desert landscape, which has been excavated by scientists over the past 30 years, has 18 distinct archaeological layers of earth, each representing a different period of human activity. UNESCO has recognised the site as being extremely significant in understanding prehistoric life in southeast Arabia at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris. Faya (Credit: Supplied) Faya becomes the second site in the UAE to receive this recognition from the UN's educational, scientific and cultural organisation after the cultural sites of Al Ain were inscribed in 2011. There are currently 96 UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the region, spanning a total of 18 different countries. Unlike areas traditionally viewed as corridors for human migration, the decades of research at Fay found that it was repeatedly a place that people settled down to live in. Sharjah formally submitted the nomination file for Faya to UNESCO in February 2024, after 12 years of preparation for the nomination dossier and the property. The UNESCO World Heritage List includes 1,226 sites around the world that hold outstanding universal value with exceptional significance and future relevance. Archaeologists at Faya (Credit: Supplied) Faya (Credit: Supplied) Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, who serves as the official ambassador for Faya's nomination file, said that the site is of deep cultural significance. She said: 'The inscription of the Faya Palaeolandscape affirms Sharjah's contribution to the cradle of early human history and highlights the Arabian Peninsula's central role in humanity's journey out of Africa. 'The stone tools found at Faya, over 200,000 years old, are testimony of our ancestors' ingenuity and the deep roots of human cultural tradition in our region.' Eisa Yousif, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, said: ''The UAE and Sharjah resonate deeply with the UNESCO World Heritage Committee's ethos of the universal belonging of inscribed sites, and we strongly promote free cultural and humanistic exchange even in a world with borders. 'The human race has thrived as a result of the fluidity of movement and free exploration that the old world order allowed us. 'Therefore, we are equally proud and happy to bring Faya Paleolandscape into the fold of the UNESCO World Heritage List, as a result of which it now belongs to all the peoples of the world, just as it did more than 200,000 years ago.' Looking for things to do in Dubai? 112 best things to do in Dubai in 2025 Everything to tick off your Dubai bucket list 50 free things to do in Dubai Feeling the pinch? Enter free things to do Here's how to eat at 10 expensive Dubai restaurants for less Early bird dinners, lunch specials and more
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4 days ago
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