Sheikha Bodour thanks Unesco for historic honour to Sharjah's Faya

The UAE has crossed a major milestone in heritage preservation as the 47th annual Unesco World Heritage Committee in Paris has reached a consensus decision to inscribe Sharjah’s Faya Palaeolandscape in its prestigious list.

The cultural heritage property, situated in the emirate’s central region in the UAE, has been recognised for its outstanding universal value (OUV) for holding one of the world’s oldest and most continuous records of early human presence in arid environments over 200,000 years.

Sheikha Bodour with dignitaries at the event in Paris.

Accepting this historic recognition on behalf of the UAE and Sharjah, Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, who serves as the official ambassador for Faya’s nomination file, thanked the World Heritage Committee’s Chair and distinguished members for recognising that Faya’s story is part of the shared story of humanity.

“On behalf of the United Arab Emirates and the Emirate of Sharjah, I extend our deepest thanks to the World Heritage Committee, the Advisory Bodies, and the World Heritage Centre for this historic recognition,” she continued, adding, “the inscription of the Faya Palaeolandscape affirms Sharjah’s contribution to the cradle of early human history and highlights the Arabian Peninsula’s central role in humanity’s journey out of Africa. The stone tools found at Faya, over 200,000 years old, are testimony of our ancestors’ ingenuity and the deep roots of human cultural tradition in our region.”

“We remain fully committed to protecting this site and honouring those who came before us by ensuring their legacy continues to inspire generations around the world,” she concluded.