Applications open for Faya research grant

Following the recent inscription of the Faya Palaeolandscape on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Government of Sharjah under the supervision of Sharjah Archaeology Authority (SAA) has opened applications for its Long-Term Research Grant, calling on international research teams to lead a three-year scientific investigation into ancient environments and prehistoric human occupation at the World Heritage site.

The Long-Term Research Grant forms the core scientific pillar of the Faya Research Grant Programme, a flagship Dhs2 million initiative led by the Government of Sharjah and administered by the SAA in coordination with the Faya World Heritage Property Scientific Committee.

Running from 2026 to 2028, the programme comprises three complementary funding streams: a single long-term research grant, six short-term research grants, and a dedicated mentoring fellowship for Emirati youth, collectively designed to strengthen the scientific foundations of Faya’s Outstanding Universal Value and advance global archaeological and palaeoenvironmental research.

The Long-Term Research Grant forms the scientific backbone of the programme.

It supports one three-year research project dedicated to reconstructing ancient environments and examining long-term patterns of prehistoric human settlement at Faya.

With a total value of up to Dhs900,000, allocated at a maximum of Dhs300,000 per year, the grant will enable sustained, in-depth investigation appropriate to a UNESCO World Heritage property. Research supported under this category is expected to generate original scientific knowledge through peer-reviewed publications, high-quality research datasets, and regional and global interpretations that contribute meaningfully to international scholarship on early human history in Arabia.

All outputs must be directly attributable to the Faya Palaeolandscape and aligned with its Outstanding Universal Value.

The Long-Term Research Grant is open to international researchers as well as research and academic institutions.

The Principal Investigator from amongst the applicants must hold a doctoral qualification in a relevant discipline and demonstrate a strong publication record in international peer-reviewed journals, along with proven experience in prehistoric archaeology and/or palaeoenvironmental research. Proposals must be led by an experienced local–international joint research team capable of managing complex, multi-year field and analytical programmes.