" Sharjah Antiquities" Leading efforts to develop the Al Faya World Heritage Site
Sharjah, April 16 / WAM / The Sharjah Archeology Authority, in cooperation with nine partner institutions in the Government of Sharjah, has prepared an action plan to discuss the controls and standards for developing the Al Faya World Heritage Site in accordance with scientific standards that ensure that its authenticity is not compromised and adheres to the guiding standards of the UNESCO World Heritage Center and the UAE’s obligations towards the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
This came during a workshop on the requirements for developing the World Heritage Site organized by the Authority at its headquarters over a period of three days during the period 14-16 April, with the participation of representatives from the agencies, bodies and departments concerned with development, planning, tourism, culture and the environment.
The workshop witnessed the participation of the Department of Planning and Survey, the Department of Housing, the Roads and Transport Authority, the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority, the Department of Public Works, the Initiatives Implementation and Infrastructure Development Authority in the Emirate of Sharjah “Mubadara,” the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority “Shurooq,” the “Environment and Natural Reserves Authority,” and the “Department of Agriculture and Livestock.”
The workshop, which was presented by the Tangible Cultural Heritage Department at the Sharjah Archeology Authority, aimed to enhance awareness of the importance of preserving archaeological and heritage sites and develop practices related to their preservation and sustainable management in a way that contributes to protecting the Al Faya site and preserving its exceptional global value as it is one of the sites included on the World Heritage List.
His Excellency Issa Yousef, Director General of the Sharjah Antiquities Authority, confirmed that the workshop established a common understanding between the concerned parties that ensures that any development remains linked to the preservation and preservation of the site and that heritage considerations remain an integral part of planning, in addition to developing a clear practical framework that preserves the site and enhances the ability to make development decisions consistent with its global status.
He said: This workshop also emphasizes the importance of institutional integration and joint work between the concerned parties to ensure the protection of the “Al Faya” site and enhance its readiness in the long term through clear regulatory frameworks and development practices that take into account its heritage and archaeological specificity in a way that preserves its authenticity and global value for future generations.
His Excellency Engineer Hamad Juma Al Shamsi, Head of the Department of Planning and Survey, said: The joint technical committee between the Department of Planning and Survey and the Department of Housing for the Al Faya World Heritage Site is concerned with preparing and coordinating the planning and regulatory requirements for the Al Faya Site, developing master plans, and documenting the infrastructure and site features, which makes its formation a pivotal step towards unifying the technical and regulatory references associated with the development of the Al Faya World Heritage Site in a way that ensures the alignment of planning and building requirements with the highest international standards approved for World Heritage Sites, through which we are keen to develop an integrated framework based on Accurate databases and modern geographic information systems support making informed planning decisions that enhance the protection of the site and preserve its authenticity and safety.
He added that this integration between the concerned authorities establishes an advanced model in the management of heritage sites based on institutional coordination and integration of roles and ensures that all future work within the boundaries of the site will be in harmony with its exceptional global value in a way that enhances its sustainability and preserves it as a national and human heritage for future generations.
On its first day, the workshop addressed the importance of observing urban requirements in the context of World Heritage, as it reviewed the global value of the site, which preserves one of the oldest and longest continuous records of human presence in desert environments, dating back more than 200,000 years.
The workshop also discussed experiences and practices related to the management of urban standards for heritage sites to benefit from them in the management plan and current requirements for Al Faya. It is the second site in the United Arab Emirates to receive this prestigious global recognition after the inclusion of “Al Ain Cultural Sites” in 2011. It is a cultural property that includes Hafeet, Al Hili, Bida Bint Saud, and the oasis areas.
The workshop stressed that “Al Faya” is a site of scientific importance at the global level and a national treasure that embodies the depth of the rich cultural heritage of the United Arab Emirates and enhances the feeling of pride, pride, and belonging to this ancient history, and therefore protecting the authenticity and integrity of this national heritage is the main goal of this workshop.
The second day included a field tour in Al Faya, which aimed to identify directly the features that embody the exceptional universal value of the site, understand the boundaries separating the main area and the buffer zone and its divisions, in addition to monitoring the urban and environmental challenges facing the site and discussing the required development needs to support its preservation.
The workshop devoted its third day to discussing the executive work plan, where the participating bodies reviewed the annexes and requirements contained in the Al Faya site management plan and discussed future development projects. The third day’s activities concluded with a session to identify the gaps in the current requirements leading to developing an executive plan to update the controls and standards for the architectural development of the site.
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