From Sharjah .. “Al -Faya” on the UNESCO World Heritage List 2025

The United Arab Emirates recorded a new historical achievement in its career to preserve cultural heritage, after the World Heritage Committee in its 47th session in Paris adopted a collective decision to include “Al -Faya” in the Emirate of Sharjah on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

And the “Al -Fayy”, which is located in the central region of the Emirate of Sharjah, has received this recognition of its “exceptional global value”, as it maintains one of the oldest and longest records of the presence of man in the desert environments, which date back to more than 200 thousand years.

The World Heritage List currently includes 1226 sites with exceptional global value, including 955 cultural sites, 231 natural sites, and 40 mixed sites, distributed over 168 countries, while the number of world heritage sites in Arab countries to date is 96 sites in 18 countries.

The “Al -Faya” website is an integrated model of what is known as “desert views”, as it represents a person’s ability to adapt and settle in deserts, as it formed – despite its characteristic of its cruelty and very difficult environmental conditions – a pivotal station in the history of human development. This gave the inclusion of “Al -Faya” on the World Heritage List a unique scientific and humanitarian dimension.

Under the category of “cultural heritage sites”, the international nomination file “was the cultural scene of prehistoric times in Al -Fayya” this year the only Arab nomination in which the World Heritage Committee considered, which gives this listing special importance to the UAE, Sharjah and the entire Arab region, and makes this event a milestone in the process of preserving human heritage in the region.

During more than thirty years of accurate exploration, which was led by the Sharjah Antiquities Authority in cooperation with international teams, 18 successive geological classes were revealed at the Al -Fayya site, each documenting a different time period of human activity, which gives the site an exceptional scientific value in drawing the path of human development in arid environments.

This research path was enriched with scientific partnerships with prestigious international universities and institutions, most notably the German University of Topingin specializing in prehistoric antiquities science, and the Department of Old Environmental Studies at the University of Oxford Broks, British, which allowed the implementation of advanced studies that deepened in understanding the old environments in which the first man lived.

“Al -Fayy” has become the second site in the UAE to obtain this distinguished global recognition, after the inclusion of Al Ain cultural sites in 2011. The inclusion of the international nomination file “confirms the cultural scene of prehistoric times in Al -Fayy” on the position of Sharjah and the UAE as a cradle of early human history, and enhances its presence in the record of ancient human civilizations.

And it is recorded for “Al -Fayya” that it is the first desert site that documents the Stone Age era registered in the World Heritage List, which makes this recognition as a milestone in understanding the development of man, as the deserts constitute about 20% of the environmental citizen on the surface of the earth, and it is located in pivotal locations on the map of human settlement of the planet. In it, human stability is embodied in a decisive chapter of human history.

This historical inclusion reflects the continuous efforts made by the UAE and the Emirate of Sharjah in preserving the common human heritage, and confirms the commitment of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, for decades, to support scientific research, preserve cultural heritage, and promote international cooperation.

The pivotal role of the Arabian Peninsula in human journey outside Africa
On behalf of the UAE and the Emirate of Sharjah, His Excellency Sheikha Badour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the official ambassador of the international nomination file for Al -Faya, expressed her thanks to the Chairman of the World Heritage Committee and its distinguished members, for this historical recognition, stressing that the story of “Al -Faya” is an inherent part of the common humanitarian story.

She added: “The inclusion of (Al -Fayya) establishes the contribution of Sharjah to being a cradle of early human history, and highlights the pivotal role of the Arabian Peninsula in the human journey to leave Africa. The stone tools that were found in Al -Fayya, which exceeds 200 thousand years, are a guide talking about the genius of our ancestors and the roots of deep cultural traditions in our region.”
She concluded her statement by saying: “We are committed with a firm commitment to protecting this site, and honoring the legacy of those who preceded us, to remain an inspiration for generations around the world.”

Al -Faya belongs to all the peoples of the world
The Director General of the Sharjah Antiquities Authority, Issa Youssef, said: “The UAE and the Emirate of Sharjah start in dealing with the World Heritage from a deep belief that the sites listed on the UNESCO list do not belong to a particular country, but rather belong to humanity. We include the cultural scene on the World Heritage List, we are proud that Al -Fayy has become all the peoples of the world, just as it was more than 200 thousand years ago.

He added: “This inclusion represents the fruit of a joint work that combines scientific research, cultural care, and international diplomacy, all within the framework of the Sharjah vision that has extended for more than 30 years, which combines heritage, education and community development.”

He pointed out that “Sharjah was officially submitted to the file of nomination to UNESCO in February 2024, after 12 years of continuous preparation for the file and the site, supported by three decades of extensive archaeological works, environmental studies, and integrated conservation plans. The site has undergone a strict evaluation according to UNESCO accurate standards, which accept only sites of exceptional global value and the extensive impact of the future.”

12 years of preparation
The Emirate of Sharjah prepared the official nomination file for Al -Faya in February 2024 after 12 years of preparation, during which it was based on more than 30 years of exploration, environmental studies and memorization plans, as the site underwent a strict evaluation according to UNESCO standards that only adopt sites of exceptional global value.

The UAE and Sharjah affirms their commitment to a comprehensive management and preservation plan for the site that extends from 2024 to 2030, and focuses on protecting the exceptional global value of the site, promoting research, education and sustainable tourism, in an integrated model that combines heritage, scientific exploration and community participation.

Sharjah displays its future plan for Al -Faya

The UAE and the Emirate of Sharjah have developed an integrated plan to manage and preserve the “Mashhad Al -Faya Cultural” website for the period from 2024 to 2030, in line with the criteria approved by UNESCO to maintain the “exceptional global value” of the site. The plan focuses on supporting scientific research, promoting education, and developing sustainable tourism, in a model that embodies the effective integration between the preservation of heritage, scientific exploration, and community participation.

This commitment is an extension of Sharjah’s continuous efforts in this field, as the “Al -Fayya” site for 11 years was one of the pivotal sites within the UNESCO “Heads” program concerned with human development, adaptations, spread, and social developments, along with prestigious African sites such as the caves of the Classice River, Cave and Noverek. This long -term cooperation between UNESCO and Al -Fayyah affirms its vital role in supporting global research in ancient human science, environmental studies, and promoting international cooperation in the field of heritage.

The concept of world heritage is unique thanks to its universality and humanitarian orientation. The sites listed on the World Heritage List not only belong to countries, but also belong to all the peoples of the world, regardless of their geographical location.
For more information: https://www.unesco.org/en/world- Heitage