Abu Dhabi : The UAE National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, and the UAE Delegation to UNESCO, are making significant efforts in cooperation with national heritage authorities to continue the country's distinguished achievements at the global level in preserving cultural heritage.

The UAE's historic achievement, achieved by the World Heritage Committee's unanimous decision to inscribe Al Faya in the Emirate of Sharjah on UNESCO's World Heritage List during its 47th session in Paris, is the result of these tireless efforts in cooperation with the Sharjah Archaeology Authority and the Executive Office of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi.

His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture and Chairman of the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, expressed his pride in this historic achievement, noting that it is the fruit of constructive cooperation between national heritage authorities and scientific and cultural research institutions, reflecting the state's strategic vision to make heritage an active component of national identity and global cultural dialogue.

His Excellency said: "The exceptional universal value of the Al Faya site lies in its being a living and extensive record of one of the oldest forms of human settlement in desert environments. It provides rare and important evidence of humanity's ability to adapt and innovate in the face of natural challenges. This makes its inclusion not only an Emirati achievement but also a cognitive contribution to humanity as a whole in understanding the evolution of human societies."

In this regard, His Excellency affirmed the continuation of efforts to enhance the presence of the UAE's cultural and natural sites on the world heritage map, and to support national efforts in documentation, rehabilitation, and the protection of historical memory, thus consolidating the UAE's position as an influential center for protecting and preserving world heritage for future generations .

The Al Faya site, located in the central region of the Emirate of Sharjah, represents living testimony to the ability of early humans to survive and adapt to harsh desert environments. It contains the oldest continuous record of human presence in the Arabian Peninsula, dating back more than 210,000 years, giving it exceptional global value in the fields of archaeology and anthropology .

The discoveries have shown that Al Faya was not only a transit corridor for migrations, but also a destination for repeated human settlements during favorable climatic periods. This was due to the availability of water from springs and valleys, the abundance of flint for tool making, and the natural shelter in the mountains, which made the site a nurturing environment for human settlement in prehistoric times .

The Al Faya site has acquired exceptional global value through these unique aspects of the discoveries, which confirm the site's importance and its role in providing a rare and comprehensive record of human survival and overcoming the climatic and environmental challenges it faced .

It is worth noting that the UAE has developed a comprehensive management plan to protect the Al Faya site. This plan will guide conservation efforts, conduct research, and regulate visitor flow from 2024 to 2030. This plan is consistent with UNESCO World Heritage Site standards and ensures the site's preservation while continuing excavation, exploration, scientific research, and education .

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