UAE gains second Unesco World Heritage Site

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The UAE has secured its second Unesco World Heritage Site, with Sharjah’s Faya Palaeolandscape officially joining the prestigious list.

Recognised at the 47th Unesco World Heritage Committee in Paris in July 2025, Faya is the Arab world’s only addition this year and marks the UAE’s first site outside capital Abu Dhabi.

According to Unesco, Faya has been recognised in the Cultural Landscape category for its “global archaeological significance”, with the landscape holding one of the world’s oldest and most continuous records of early human presence, dating back more than 210,000 years.

Located in central Sharjah, about 55 kilometres from both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, the site features the striking Faya Range, a limestone ridge that serves as a natural barrier between the Rub’ al-Khali desert and the Dhaid-Madam Plain.

Jebel Al Fayah rocky mountain range

More than three decades of excavations at Faya have uncovered 18 layers of human occupation, providing evidence of early human resilience and adaptation in harsh desert conditions and challenging traditional migration theories.

Reflecting on the achievement, Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the official ambassador for Faya’s nomination, said: “For over 210,000 years, this site has borne witness to the story of human innovation, resilience and adaptation in an arid environment.”

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She also emphasised the UAE’s commitment to protecting its cultural heritage for future generations, with a long-term management plan designed to preserve the site, support ongoing research and make it accessible to visitors.

For those wanting to learn more about Faya, the Mleiha Archaeological Centre offers interactive exhibits and guided tours with information on the region’s ancient history.

Visitors can also discover nearby natural wonders, including ancient Wadi caves and Fossil Rock, known for its fossil-rich outcrops and scenic hiking trails.

Fossil Rock in Sharjah

Faya is the UAE’s second Unesco-listed site with the first, Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Sites of Al Ain encompassing Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and the oases, sites that collectively showcase the region’s continuous human settlement since the Neolithic period, with ancient tombs, irrigation systems and adobe structures

Across the GCC, there are now more than a dozen Unesco World Heritage Sites, including five in Oman: from Bahla Fort, a 13th-century mud-brick fortress famed for its massive walls and towers, to the ancient aflaj irrigation systems that date to 500 CE.

Saudi Arabia’s most recent Unesco listing, Hima Cultural Area, features thousands of petroglyphs and inscriptions spanning 7,000 years; while Al-Ahsa Oasis, the world’s largest, is home to millions of date palms and archaeological remains that trace continuous settlement from prehistory to today.

In Qatar, Al Zubarah Fort anchors a once-thriving 18th-century coastal town, with its preserved walls and ruins revealing the Gulf’s pearling and trading heritage.

Unesco grants World Heritage status to sites of “outstanding universal value” that meet at least one of 10 rigorous criteria, ranging from cultural significance to historic testimony.

For more information, visit www.unesco.org