Celebrating 15 years since its inclusion in "UNESCO".. Al Ain Museum highlights the global value of its cultural sites
Al Ain, June 28 / WAM / Al Ain Museum organized a special cultural program within the “Museum Dialogues” series, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the inclusion of Al Ain sites on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), highlighting the registration journey that began with the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, and continued with the support and follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him. Which formed the cornerstone for preserving this legacy of urban expansion and crowning it with international registration.
The program reviewed efforts to preserve the cultural heritage of the region through a special session entitled “15 Years of World Heritage,” moderated by Yasser Saeed Al Neyadi, with the participation of a group of experts who contributed to preparing the listing file, namely Mohammed Amer Al Neyadi, archaeologist and former director of the Historic Environment Department, Talal Al Salmani, architect and urban planner, and engineer Belhassan Al Qanabi, senior heritage planning specialist. The program also included family interactive workshops and guided tours inside the museum supervised by specialists in antiquities and restoration. To enrich the cognitive experience of visitors.
Omar Al Kaabi, Director of Al Ain Museum and Al Ain Cultural Sites, confirmed that this celebration reflects the exceptional importance of the sites and their cultural value, pointing out that the interest of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, in protecting the oases and inviting scientists to excavate in Al Ain, Hili and Bida Bint Saud since the 1940s, reflects an early vision of heritage preservation before there were any international classifications.
Al Kaabi explained that the inclusion of the sites in 2011 confirms their importance to the entire world as a witness to the continuity of human existence and the engineering achievements of successive civilizations, noting the role of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the concerned authorities in preserving this heritage for future generations through specialized lectures and workshops.
Abdul Rahman Al Nuaimi, Head of the World Heritage Sites Department at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, stated that celebrating this occasion represents an opportunity to recall decades of protection and restoration efforts for 17 listed sites distributed into four main groups under the name “Al Ain Cultural Sites.”
He explained that the first group includes Jebel Hafeet sites dating back to the beginnings of the Bronze Age and includes cemeteries that revealed important artifacts, while the second group includes 15 archaeological falajs dating back to the Iron Age and representing irrigation techniques that continue until today.
Al Nuaimi added that the third group includes the oases of the city of Al Ain as a witness to continuous settlement, and the fourth includes the site of Bida bint Saud dating back to the Bronze and Iron Ages, stressing that these sites constitute a unique cultural heritage that enhances the cultural identity of the UAE and highlights its ancient history globally.
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