Ancient 200,000-year-old UAE site joins UNESCO World Heritage List
Recognised under the Cultural Landscape category, Faya was the only Arab site added this year and the second from the UAE after Al Ain's cultural sites were inscribed in 2011.
Located in Sharjah's central region, Faya Palaeolandscape holds one of the world's oldest and most continuous records of early human habitation in arid environments, dating back more than 200,000 years.
Faya Palaeolandscape in the UAE
It is the first desert Paleolithic site on the World Heritage List, offering invaluable insight into human evolution and prehistoric life in Southeast Arabia.
This inscription affirms the UAE's and Sharjah's global standing in heritage protection and acknowledges over three decades of archaeological research led by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority in collaboration with institutions such as the University of Tübingen and Oxford Brookes University.
The site has yielded 18 archaeological layers, providing critical evidence of human settlement in desert environments.
Sharjah formally submitted the nomination in February 2024 following 12 years of dossier preparation.
Faya's inclusion came after a rigorous evaluation based on UNESCO's standards of Outstanding Universal Value.
The achievement reflects Sharjah's long-standing vision to integrate heritage, education and sustainable development, in line with the commitment of Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, official ambassador of the nomination file, expressed gratitude to the World Heritage Committee for recognising Faya's significance.
She said the inscription affirms Sharjah's role in early human history and highlights the Arabian Peninsula's position in the story of human migration from Africa.
She said: 'The stone tools found at Faya are testimony to the ingenuity of our ancestors and the deep roots of cultural tradition in our region.
'We remain fully committed to protecting this site and ensuring its legacy continues to inspire future generations.'
Eisa Yousif, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, said the inscription reflects shared ownership of world heritage.
'Faya now belongs to all peoples of the world, just as it did over 200,000 years ago,' he said, noting that this milestone represents the culmination of scientific research, cultural preservation and international cooperation.
The UAE and Sharjah have adopted a comprehensive conservation plan for 2024–2030 to protect Faya's universal value, with a continued focus on research, education and sustainable tourism.
For more than a decade, Faya has also been a key site in UNESCO's Human Evolution, Adaptations, Dispersals and Social Developments (HEADS) Programme, alongside world-renowned locations such as Klasies River Caves and Wonderwerk Cave.
Faya's inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites to 1,226 across 168 countries, including 955 cultural, 231 natural and 40 mixed sites.
The Arab region now hosts 96 such sites across 18 countries.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
9 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Why the UAE's story at World Expo matters to the world
Fifty-five years ago, Abu Dhabi participated in its first World Expo in Osaka in 1970 with quiet ambition and a clear message: we are ready to engage with the world. Today, the UAE is back in Osaka not as observers, but as convenors, collaborators and catalysts of change. Expo 2025 is not just a global gathering; it is a proving ground for shared progress. The UAE Pavilion stands as a working model of what it means to lead with purpose, build with vision and partner with humility. World Expos have evolved. They are no longer stages for grand statements alone. They are now incubators of cooperation, places where policy meets creativity, and where nations test ideas that might shape the global future. This evolution mirrors the UAE's own journey, from a newly formed federation to a nation that places innovation, sustainability and human potential at the heart of its identity. Our experience as the host nation of Expo 2020 Dubai marked a defining moment in the UAE's global engagement. For six months, we welcomed visitors from across the world, creating a platform that celebrated innovation, culture and cooperation across 192 participating countries. Expo 2020 was not only the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region, but also a demonstration of how the UAE brings together ambition and inclusion on a global scale. That legacy lives on through our participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, where we continue the dialogue we began on home soil The theme of the UAE Pavilion, Earth to Ether, captures our philosophy. It represents the nation's commitment to empowering life across every spectrum: from tangible environmental action to boundless ambition in space exploration. The Pavilion's three narrative zones, Explorers of Space, Catalysts of Healthcare, and Stewards of Sustainability, are not static exhibitions. They are dynamic stories of people and partnerships building the future. Take our journey into space. The UAE was the first Arab nation to reach Mars. But beyond that achievement lies purpose. The data from the Emirates Mars Mission is freely shared with the global scientific community. As a founding member of Nasa's Artemis Accords and a core contributor to the Gateway project, the Moon's future orbital station, the UAE is shaping the future of space not in isolation but in solidarity. This is diplomacy through science and it is being showcased live at the pavilion. In healthcare, our story begins with necessity but now drives global innovation. With partnerships ranging from Kyoto University to the World Health Organisation, the UAE is investing in genomic research, preventative medicine and AI-powered diagnostics. Through institutions like PureHealth, M42, and the Abu Dhabi Biobank, we are developing healthcare systems designed not just to treat, but to predict and personalise care. Our efforts on sustainability are deeply rooted in tradition. The Pavilion's architecture is inspired by the date palm tree, a symbol of resilience and generosity, and reimagined through cutting-edge circular design. Constructed from cross-laminated timber using Japanese joinery techniques, the Pavilion is demountable and sustainable by design. But the symbolism is greater than structure. Our ancestors built with what they had. We now build for what the world needs. Yet what truly distinguishes this Pavilion is not the design or technology, but the spirit within. Youth Ambassadors warmly welcome visitors, showcasing hospitality shaped by generations of Emirati culture. Artists, performers, scientists and artisans have transformed the space into a vibrant, living experience. Our values of openness, resilience and ambition are brought to life through human connection. In a time of geopolitical tension, climate anxiety and digital fragmentation, the UAE's story offers something essential: a model of balanced modernity. Here is a nation that embraces progress without abandoning its identity, that celebrates diversity while preserving its roots and that seeks global relevance without demanding conformity. And this is precisely why the UAE's story at Expo 2025 matters. It is not about projecting an image; rather, it is about proposing a pathway — one that is collaborative, grounded and future-facing; one where space missions serve Earth, where sustainability is integrated into everyday life and where diplomacy is practised through architecture, education and shared discovery. The UAE Pavilion is also a tribute to the deep and enduring relationship between the UAE and Japan. This partnership, built on decades of trust and trade, now expands into co-innovation in energy, healthcare, logistics and sustainability. At Expo 2025, we are not just neighbours on the Expo map. We are partners in purpose. As Commissioner General and as Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Japan, I have had the privilege of witnessing how Japanese visitors engage with the Pavilion. What resonates with them is not grandeur. It is sincerity. Not scale, but substance. It is in these moments of connection that the true success of an Expo lives. We are now past the opening fanfare. The Pavilion is alive with questions, conversations, and curiosity. The next phase of our Expo journey is to turn engagement into collaboration and collaboration into legacy. Already, new ideas are emerging, from educational exchanges and business partnerships to sustainability pilots and joint research. We invite the world to join us in shaping what comes after Expo. The UAE's participation at Expo 2025 Osaka is not just an exhibit. It is an invitation to engage with us, collaborate with us and co-create a future that serves all life, from the Earth to the ether. That is why our story matters and we are proud to tell it once again in Osaka.
Zawya
13 hours ago
- Zawya
UNESCO cements UAE's historical significance by inscribing Sharjah's Faya as the only Arab World Heritage Site inscription this year
Bodour Al Qasimi: 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. We remain fully committed to protecting Faya and preserving our ancestors' legacy so it continues to inspire generations worldwide. Faya Palaeolandscape has achieved a monumental milestone, becoming the latest addition to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Faya Palaeolandscape bears one of the oldest and most continuous records of early human presence in arid environments for over 200,000 years, documenting the deep roots of cultural traditions in the region. UNESCO's historic recognition for Faya also highlights the Arabian Peninsula's central role in humanity's journey out of Africa. New research and archaeological discoveries conducted by Sharjah Archaeological Authority (SAA), in collaboration with global experts, prove that Faya served as a destination for early human settlement; not only a transit point for migration. As one of the earliest continuous records of human existence outside Africa, it affirms our ancestors' ingenuity and our region's contribution to the cradle of early human history. Over the past 30 years, scientists have excavated the Faya site, uncovering 18 distinct archaeological layers of earth, each representing a different period of human activity. Paris: The UAE has crossed a major milestone in heritage preservation as the 47th annual UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris has reached a consensus decision to inscribe Sharjah's Faya Palaeolandscape in its prestigious list. The cultural heritage property, situated in the emirate's central region in the UAE, has been recognised for its outstanding universal value (OUV) for holding one of the world's oldest and most continuous records of early human presence in arid environments over 200,000 years. The Faya Palaeolandscape is an intact fossil desert landscape. Faya's critical role as a repeated destination for habitation has fundamentally altered our understanding of prehistoric life in Southeast Arabia, and represents a significant milestone in human evolution. This is what makes the inscription of Faya on the World Heritage List extremely significant. Until the inscription of Faya, desert Paleolithic sites were not represented in the World Heritage List. Under the 'Cultural Landscape' category, this year, Faya Paleolandscape was the only Arab nomination considered by the World Heritage Committee, making this achievement even more historic and meaningful for Sharjah, UAE and the wider region. Faya now stands as the second site in the UAE to receive this recognition, after The Cultural Sites of Al Ain inscribed in 2011. The inscription of Faya Palaeolandscape globally affirms Sharjah's and the UAE's place as a cradle of early human history. There are currently 96 UNESCO World Heritage Sites inscribed across the Arab States region, spanning a total of 18 different countries. Deserts represent 20% of global habitats. They are located at critical waypoints of humanity's journey to the colonisation of the entire planet. Their settlement reflects a critical chapter of humanity's past. Unlike areas traditionally viewed as mere corridors for human migration, decades of interdisciplinary research at Faya have revealed it as a repeated destination for habitation, fundamentally altering our understanding of prehistoric life in Southeast Arabia. Over 30 years of meticulous excavations, led by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority (SAA) in collaboration with international institutions such as the University of Tübingen that specialises in prehistory archaeology and Oxford Brookes University's department on palaeoenvironment study, have uncovered 18 distinct archaeological layers. This historic inscription reinforces the UAE and Sharjah's consistent efforts and importance in safeguarding humanity's shared heritage and highlights the decades-long commitment of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to scientific research, cultural preservation and global collaboration. 'The inscription affirms Sharjah's contribution to the cradle of early human history' Accepting this historic recognition on behalf of the UAE and Sharjah, Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, who serves as the official ambassador for Faya's nomination file, thanked the World Heritage Committee's Chair and distinguished members for recognising that Faya's story is part of the shared story of humanity. 'On behalf of the United Arab Emirates and the Emirate of Sharjah, I extend our deepest thanks to the World Heritage Committee, the Advisory Bodies, and the World Heritage Centre for this historic recognition', she continued, adding, '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.' 'We remain fully committed to protecting this site and honouring those who came before us by ensuring their legacy continues to inspire generations around the world,' she concluded. 'Faya now belongs to all the peoples of the world, just as it did over 200,000 years ago' According to H.E. Eisa Yousif, Director-General, Sharjah Archaeology Authority (SAA): '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.' 'This inscription is the culmination of a carefully coordinated effort combining scientific rigor, cultural stewardship, and international diplomacy - all aligned with Sharjah's broader 30-year vision to integrate heritage, education, and community development', he further noted. Sharjah formally submitted the nomination file for Faya to UNESCO in February 2024, after 12 years of preparation of the nomination dossier and the property. These preparations have been informed and enriched by more than 30 years of intensive archaeological work, environmental studies, and conservation planning. Faya Palaeolandscape has received this global recognition after undergoing a rigorous evaluation based on UNESCO's established criteria designed to ensure that only those sites with exceptional significance and future relevance are included. Sharjah shares a future plan for Faya demonstrating continued commitment to protecting global human and cultural heritage The UAE and Sharjah have established a robust management and conservation plan (2024–2030) for the Faya Palaeolandscape. This initiative aims to uphold the site's Outstanding Universal Value according to UNESCO standards, while being continually committed to promoting research, education, and sustainable tourism. It serves as a prime example of integrating heritage preservation with scientific exploration and community involvement This commitment is also demonstrated in Sharjah's past efforts in this field. For 11 years, Faya Paleolandscape has been a cornerstone site within UNESCO's Human Evolution, Adaptations, Dispersals and Social Developments (HEADS) Programme, alongside iconic sites like Klasies River Caves and Wonderwerk Cave in Africa. This long standing partnership between UNESCO and Faya Paleolandscape underscores the site's role in advancing global palaeoanthropological research, environmental studies, and international heritage cooperation. What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application. World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located. The World Heritage List includes 1226 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value. These include 955 cultural, 231 natural and 40 mixed properties in 168 States Parties. For more information, visit
Arabian Business
18 hours ago
- Arabian Business
Ancient 200,000-year-old UAE site joins UNESCO World Heritage List
The UAE marked a milestone in heritage preservation as the UNESCO World Heritage Committee officially inscribed Sharjah's Faya Palaeolandscape on the World Heritage List. Recognised under the Cultural Landscape category, Faya was the only Arab site added this year and the second from the UAE after Al Ain's cultural sites were inscribed in 2011. Located in Sharjah's central region, Faya Palaeolandscape holds one of the world's oldest and most continuous records of early human habitation in arid environments, dating back more than 200,000 years. Faya Palaeolandscape in the UAE It is the first desert Paleolithic site on the World Heritage List, offering invaluable insight into human evolution and prehistoric life in Southeast Arabia. This inscription affirms the UAE's and Sharjah's global standing in heritage protection and acknowledges over three decades of archaeological research led by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority in collaboration with institutions such as the University of Tübingen and Oxford Brookes University. The site has yielded 18 archaeological layers, providing critical evidence of human settlement in desert environments. Sharjah formally submitted the nomination in February 2024 following 12 years of dossier preparation. Faya's inclusion came after a rigorous evaluation based on UNESCO's standards of Outstanding Universal Value. The achievement reflects Sharjah's long-standing vision to integrate heritage, education and sustainable development, in line with the commitment of Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, official ambassador of the nomination file, expressed gratitude to the World Heritage Committee for recognising Faya's significance. She said the inscription affirms Sharjah's role in early human history and highlights the Arabian Peninsula's position in the story of human migration from Africa. She said: 'The stone tools found at Faya are testimony to the ingenuity of our ancestors and the deep roots of cultural tradition in our region. 'We remain fully committed to protecting this site and ensuring its legacy continues to inspire future generations.' Eisa Yousif, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, said the inscription reflects shared ownership of world heritage. 'Faya now belongs to all peoples of the world, just as it did over 200,000 years ago,' he said, noting that this milestone represents the culmination of scientific research, cultural preservation and international cooperation. The UAE and Sharjah have adopted a comprehensive conservation plan for 2024–2030 to protect Faya's universal value, with a continued focus on research, education and sustainable tourism. For more than a decade, Faya has also been a key site in UNESCO's Human Evolution, Adaptations, Dispersals and Social Developments (HEADS) Programme, alongside world-renowned locations such as Klasies River Caves and Wonderwerk Cave. Faya's inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites to 1,226 across 168 countries, including 955 cultural, 231 natural and 40 mixed sites. The Arab region now hosts 96 such sites across 18 countries.
