Latest news with #SheikhaBodourbintSultanAlQasimi
Al Etihad
a day ago
- General
- Al Etihad
Sharjah's Faya Palaeolandscape marks 11 years of advancing the global understanding of early human life in desert environments
3 June 2025 16:10 SHARJAH (WAM)Sharjah's Faya Palaeolandscape, one of the most scientifically significant prehistory archaeological sites in Arabia, continues to serve as a cornerstone in UNESCO's Human Evolution, Adaptations, Dispersals and Social Developments (HEADS) 11 years, the site has played a vital role in advancing global understanding of early human migration, adaptation, and survival in desert long-term collaboration between Sharjah and UNESCO HEADS programme has established Faya as a global reference point in palaeoanthropology and archaeology, placing the UAE at the centre of international scientific discourse on human property's uninterrupted record of over 210,000 years of human habitation has made it a key contributor to the evolving narrative of early life in Southeast Arabia.'Faya's recognition in the HEADS programme for more than a decade is a testament to the UAE's commitment to safeguarding its ancient heritage,' said Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the official ambassador for Faya Palaeolandscape ongoing UNESCO World Heritage nomination.'Sharjah has never viewed archaeology as merely a glimpse into the past, but as a vital part of our national identity and a platform for international cultural dialogue. Faya stands as evidence of how Sharjah combines scientific research with cultural vision, elevating the emirate as a leading contributor to global heritage. The site strengthens our cultural identity, supports cutting-edge research, and invites the world to explore how deeply rooted our region is in the story of human civilisation," she to Eisa Yousif, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority (SAA), Faya has played a pivotal role in shaping international scientific discourse on early human life.'Faya has long been a cornerstone in the global understanding of how early humans adapted, survived, and evolved in arid landscapes. Its archaeological record — spanning more than 210,000 years — reveals unprecedented insights into toolmaking, burial practices, and shifting lifestyles in response to climatic extremes."Faya challenges long-held assumptions and affirms that the Arabian Peninsula was not merely a corridor, but a cradle of human evolution in its own right. It demonstrates that early societies did not just pass through this region — they thrived here, innovated, and laid cultural and social foundations that deepen our understanding of human resilience.'As one of the few documented Stone Age desert landscapes in the world, Faya provides exceptional evidence of early modern human adaptation to hyper-arid environments over tens of thousands of the earliest hunter-gatherer communities to pastoral nomadic herders with funeral practices, the archaeological record at Faya reveals how humans evolved socially, technologically and spiritually in response to extreme and changing its regional significance, the property contributes to a larger global understanding of how early humans navigated survival, resource management, and social development in some of the harshest conditions on Earth. The sediment layers and preserved palaeoenvironmental features at Faya have made it a key site for understanding water availability, vegetation distribution, and climatic shifts during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene findings offer invaluable insight not only into human resilience but also into wider environmental transformations that shaped early is part of key sites recognised by the UNESCO HEADS programme for its critical contributions to human evolutionary studies, including Klasies River Caves, Border Cave and Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa, and the Tchitundo-Hulu Rock Art Site in distinguishes Faya, however, is its location within the Arabian Peninsula - a region previously understudied in global narratives of human migration. Faya is now helping reshape that narrative, anchoring Arabia as a key locus in the shared history of support of this global effort, Dr. Knut Bretzke, one of the lead researchers on the Faya site, recently presented the findings and significance of the landscape at a UNESCO HEADS programme meeting in Cairo, underscoring the international importance of the site and Sharjah's continued leadership in heritage-based research. As the Faya nomination for World Heritage inscription progresses, the property's legacy is already firmly established: a pivotal source of scientific inquiry, international cooperation and national pride. Faya continues to show the world that the answers to humanity's oldest questions are not only written in stone but preserved in the land.
Sharjah 24
a day ago
- General
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah's Faya Palaeolandscape marks 11 years in UNESCO HEADS prog
This long-term collaboration between Sharjah and UNESCO HEADS Programme has established Faya as a global reference point in palaeoanthropology and archaeology, placing the UAE at the centre of international scientific discourse on human origins. The property's uninterrupted record of over 210,000 years of human habitation has made it a key contributor to the evolving narrative of early life in Southeast Arabia. The evolving narrative of early life in Southeast Arabia 'Faya's recognition in the HEADS Programme for more than a decade is a testament to the UAE's commitment to safeguarding its ancient heritage,' said Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the official ambassador for Faya Palaeolandscape ongoing UNESCO World Heritage nomination. 'Sharjah has never viewed archaeology as merely a glimpse into the past, but as a vital part of our national identity and a platform for international cultural dialogue. Faya stands as evidence of how Sharjah combines scientific research with cultural vision, elevating the emirate as a leading contributor to global heritage. The site strengthens our cultural identity, supports cutting-edge research, and invites the world to explore how deeply rooted our region is in the story of human civilisation.' According to Eisa Yousif, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority (SAA), Faya has played a pivotal role in shaping international scientific discourse on early human life. 'Faya has long been a cornerstone in the global understanding of how early humans adapted, survived, and evolved in arid landscapes,' he said. 'Its archaeological record — spanning more than 210,000 years — reveals unprecedented insights into toolmaking, burial practices, and shifting lifestyles in response to climatic extremes. Faya challenges long-held assumptions and affirms that the Arabian Peninsula was not merely a corridor, but a cradle of human evolution in its own right. It demonstrates that early societies did not just pass through this region — they thrived here, innovated, and laid cultural and social foundations that deepen our understanding of human resilience.' Faya Connects Arabia's Past to the Global Human Story As one of the few documented Stone Age desert landscapes in the world, Faya provides exceptional evidence of early modern human adaptation to hyper-arid environments over tens of thousands of years. From the earliest hunter-gatherer communities to pastoral nomadic herders with funeral practices, the archaeological record at Faya reveals how humans evolved socially, technologically and spiritually in response to extreme and changing climates. Beyond its regional significance, the property contributes to a larger global understanding of how early humans navigated survival, resource management, and social development in some of the harshest conditions on Earth. The sediment layers and preserved palaeoenvironmental features at Faya have made it a key site for understanding water availability, vegetation distribution, and climatic shifts during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. These findings offer invaluable insight not only into human resilience but also into wider environmental transformations that shaped early civilisations. Faya is part of key sites recognised by the UNESCO HEADS programme for their critical contributions to human evolutionary studies, including Klasies River Caves, Border Cave and Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa, and the Tchitundo-Hulu Rock Art Site in Angola. What distinguishes Faya, however, is its location within the Arabian Peninsula - a region previously understudied in global narratives of human migration. Faya is now helping reshape that narrative, anchoring Arabia as a key locus in the shared history of our species. In support of this global effort, Dr Knut Bretzke, one of the lead researchers on the Faya site, recently presented the findings and significance of the landscape at a UNESCO HEADS Programme meeting in Cairo, underscoring the international importance of the site and Sharjah's continued leadership in heritage-based research. As the Faya nomination for World Heritage inscription progresses, the property's legacy is already firmly established: a pivotal source of scientific inquiry, international cooperation and national pride. Faya continues to show the world that the answers to humanity's oldest questions are not only written in stone but preserved in the land we call home.
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Bodour Al Qasimi inaugurates 'Six Degrees' exhibition
1 June 2025 18:06 SHARJAH (WAM) Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the American University of Sharjah (AUS), inaugurated the 15th annual "Six Degrees" graduation exhibition at the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation exhibition is open to the public and showcases the work of graduating students from the College of Architecture, Art, and Design (CAAD) at exhibition features projects from a wide range of CAAD programmes, including architecture, interior design, design management, multimedia design, visual communication, and urban planning. It provides a vital platform for connecting students with representatives from the UAE's design and creative of College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD,) Dr. Varkki Pallathucheril, emphasised that the exhibition represents the culmination of each student's academic journey, marked by creative exploration, studio work, and professional of SRTI Park, Hussain Al Mahmoudi, highlighted the park's role in hosting the exhibition, underlining its importance in promoting innovation and supporting young designers and architects. He noted that the event demonstrates a commitment to fostering sustainable, human-centered solutions through the collaboration of academia and part of the event, CAAD held its annual awards ceremony, recognising 28 exceptional students and faculty members for academic excellence, creativity, leadership, and service to the AUS year's edition also includes a special showcase by pioneering Emirati artist Dr Najat Makki, who is the 2024–2025 artist-in-residence at AUS. Her selected works, developed during her residency, are featured as a central part of the exhibition, which continues until June 8.
Gulf Today
25-05-2025
- General
- Gulf Today
Sharjah's Faya Palaeolandscape advances in its nomination for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List
The UAE has reached another defining moment in its cultural and scientific journey, as Sharjah advances the nomination of the Faya Palaeolandscape for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Situated in the Central Region of Sharjah, this ancient desert site holds one of the world's oldest and most uninterrupted records of early human presence, dating back to over 210,000 years. Formally nominated in 2024 under the 'Cultural Landscape' category, the Faya Palaeolandscape is now under evaluation by UNESCO World Heritage Center. The property is being recognised not only for its archaeological depth, but for its potential to reshape our global understanding of how early humans lived in arid environments, moved and evolved across Southeast Arabia. 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. H.E 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.
Al Etihad
25-05-2025
- General
- Al Etihad
Ancient Sharjah site advances nomination on UNESCO World Heritage List
25 May 2025 16:43 SHARJAH (WAM)The UAE has reached another defining moment in its cultural and scientific journey with Sharjah advancing the nomination of the Faya Palaeolandscape for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage in the Central Region of Sharjah, this ancient desert site holds one of the world's oldest and most uninterrupted records of early human presence, dating back to over 210,000 nominated in 2024 under the Cultural Landscape category, the Faya Palaeolandscape is now under evaluation by UNESCO World Heritage Center. The property is being recognised not only for its archaeological depth, but for its potential to reshape our global understanding of how early humans lived in arid environments, moved and evolved across Southeast 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 Bodour said, "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 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 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 the past 30 years, 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 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 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 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.
