Latest news with #DispersalsandSocialDevelopments
Arab Times
3 days ago
- General
- Arab Times
UAE's Al Faya site added to UNESCO World Heritage List
KUWAIT CITY, July 12: The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) warmly congratulated the leadership, government, and people of the United Arab Emirates and the Emirate of Sharjah on the inclusion of the Al Faya archaeological site in UNESCO's World Heritage List for 2025. In a statement to KUNA, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, Minister of Information and Culture, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, and NCCAL Chairman, expressed pride in this milestone and commended the UAE's continuous commitment to cultural and heritage preservation. NCCAL noted that the inscription highlights the UAE's ongoing dedication to safeguarding human heritage and preserving the rich cultural and historical identity of the region. This recognition also enhances Arab and Gulf contributions to the global heritage landscape. The Council wished the UAE further progress and success in promoting its cultural legacy internationally. Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the official ambassador for the nomination, accepted the recognition on behalf of the UAE and Sharjah. She emphasized that the Faya Palaeolandscape underlines Sharjah's important role in early human history, with findings that showcase the ingenuity of ancient human communities. This achievement crowns over 30 years of research and excavation by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, in partnership with international academic institutions like the University of Tübingen and Oxford Brookes University. Since 2014, this work has been a key part of UNESCO's Human Evolution, Adaptations, Dispersals and Social Developments (HEADS) program. Eisa Yousif, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, described the inscription as a result of scientific excellence, cultural responsibility, and global collaboration. He remarked that Faya now belongs to all humanity, just as it did more than 210,000 years ago. The UAE and Sharjah have outlined a long-term conservation and management plan (2024–2030) focused on sustainable tourism, continued research, and education, aligned with UNESCO's guidelines. Currently, there are 96 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 18 Arab countries. With this addition, the global list includes 1,226 sites of outstanding universal value across 168 nations.
Filipino Times
3 days ago
- General
- Filipino Times
UAE's Faya Palaeolandscape in Sharjah added to UNESCO World Heritage List
United Arab Emirates marked a major milestone in cultural preservation as the UNESCO World Heritage Committee officially inscribed Sharjah's Faya Palaeolandscape on the World Heritage List. Recognised under the Cultural Landscape category, Faya is the only Arab site added to the list this year and the second from the UAE, following the inscription of Al Ain's cultural sites in 2011. Located in Sharjah's central region, Faya Palaeolandscape contains one of the oldest and most continuous records of early human habitation in arid environments, dating back over 200,000 years. It is also the first desert Paleolithic site to be included on the World Heritage List. The site provides significant evidence of early human settlement and migration in Southeast Arabia. The listing reflects over three decades of archaeological research led by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, in partnership with institutions including the University of Tübingen and Oxford Brookes University. Sharjah submitted the nomination dossier in February 2024 after 12 years of preparation. The site passed a rigorous evaluation process based on UNESCO's criteria for Outstanding Universal Value. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, who served as the official ambassador of the nomination file, said the recognition underscores Sharjah's role in early human history and the Arabian Peninsula's significance in the story of human migration out of Africa. 'The stone tools found at Faya are testimony to the ingenuity of our ancestors and the deep roots of cultural tradition in our region,' she said, affirming Sharjah's continued commitment to protecting the site. The UAE and Sharjah have launched a conservation plan covering 2024 to 2030, focusing on heritage protection, research, education, and sustainable tourism. Faya is also a key location under UNESCO's Human Evolution, Adaptations, Dispersals and Social Developments (HEADS) Programme. The addition of Faya brings the total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites to 1,226 across 168 countries, including 955 cultural, 231 natural, and 40 mixed sites. The Arab region now hosts 96 sites in 18 countries.
See - Sada Elbalad
4 days ago
- General
- See - Sada Elbalad
UNESCO Adds Sharjah's Faya Palaeolandscape as Sole Arab World Heritage Site in 2025
Mohamed Mandour The United Nations cultural agency UNESCO has added Sharjah's Faya Palaeolandscape to its prestigious World Heritage List, marking the United Arab Emirates' second World Heritage site and the only Arab site to be inscribed in 2025. The announcement came during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris. The site, located in the central region of Sharjah, is recognized for its exceptional archaeological significance, offering key insights into early human habitation in arid environments. Evidence from the site dates back more than 210,000 years. Faya's inclusion under the 'Cultural Landscape' category highlights its importance in tracing early human migration and evolution, particularly the Arabian Peninsula's role in the broader narrative of human dispersal from Africa. The discovery of ancient stone tools and 18 archaeological layers has reshaped scientific understanding of prehistoric life in Southeast Arabia. Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, who served as the official ambassador for the nomination, accepted the recognition on behalf of the UAE and Sharjah. 'The inscription of the Faya Palaeolandscape affirms Sharjah's contribution to the cradle of early human history,' she said, adding that the findings at Faya stand as a testament to the ingenuity of early human communities. This achievement follows more than three decades of research and excavation led by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, in collaboration with global academic institutions including the University of Tübingen and Oxford Brookes University. The work has been integral to UNESCO's Human Evolution, Adaptations, Dispersals and Social Developments (HEADS) program since 2014. 'This inscription is the culmination of scientific rigor, cultural stewardship, and international cooperation,' said Eisa Yousif, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority. 'Faya now belongs to all the peoples of the world, just as it did more than 210,000 years ago.' The UAE and Sharjah have committed to a long-term conservation and management plan (2024–2030) that prioritizes sustainable tourism, ongoing research, and education, in alignment with UNESCO's standards. There are currently 96 UNESCO World Heritage Sites across 18 Arab countries. With this addition, the World Heritage List now includes 1,226 properties of outstanding universal value in 168 nations. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Arts & Culture Hawass Foundation Launches 1st Course to Teach Ancient Egyptian Language
Al Etihad
4 days ago
- General
- Al Etihad
UNESCO inscribes Sharjah's Faya to World Heritage List
11 July 2025 17:34 PARIS (WAM)The UAE marked a milestone in heritage preservation as the UNESCO World Heritage Committee officially inscribed Sharjah's Faya Palaeolandscape on the World Heritage under the Cultural Landscape category, Faya was the only Arab site added this year and the second from the UAE after Al Ain's cultural sites were inscribed in in Sharjah's central region, Faya Palaeolandscape holds one of the world's oldest and most continuous records of early human habitation in arid environments, dating back over 200,000 years. It is the first desert Paleolithic site on the World Heritage List, offering invaluable insight into human evolution and prehistoric life in Southeast inscription affirms the UAE's and Sharjah's global standing in heritage protection and acknowledges over three decades of archaeological research led by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority in collaboration with institutions such as the University of Tübingen and Oxford Brookes University. The site has yielded 18 archaeological layers, providing critical evidence of human settlement in desert formally submitted the nomination in February 2024 following 12 years of dossier preparation. Faya's inclusion came after a rigorous evaluation based on UNESCO's standards of Outstanding Universal Value. The achievement reflects Sharjah's long-standing vision to integrate heritage, education and sustainable development, in line with the commitment of H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, official ambassador of the nomination file, expressed gratitude to the World Heritage Committee for recognising Faya's significance. She said the inscription affirms Sharjah's role in early human history and highlights the Arabian Peninsula's position in the story of human migration from Africa.'The stone tools found at Faya are testimony to the ingenuity of our ancestors and the deep roots of cultural tradition in our region,' she said, adding, 'We remain fully committed to protecting this site and ensuring its legacy continues to inspire future generations.'Eisa Yousif, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, said the inscription reflects shared ownership of world heritage. 'Faya now belongs to all peoples of the world, just as it did over 200,000 years ago,' he said, noting that this milestone represents the culmination of scientific research, cultural preservation and international UAE and Sharjah have adopted a comprehensive conservation plan for 2024–2030 to protect Faya's universal value, with a continued focus on research, education and sustainable tourism. For over a decade, Faya has also been a key site in UNESCO's Human Evolution, Adaptations, Dispersals and Social Developments (HEADS) Programme, alongside world-renowned locations such as Klasies River Caves and Wonderwerk Cave. Faya's inscription brings the total number of World Heritage sites to 1,226 across 168 countries, including 955 cultural, 231 natural and 40 mixed sites. The Arab region now hosts 96 such sites across 18 countries.
Gulf Today
04-06-2025
- General
- Gulf Today
Faya Palaeolandscape marks 11 years in UNESCO programme
Sharjah's Faya Palaeolandscape, one of the most scientifically significant prehistory archaeological sites in Arabia, continues to serve as a cornerstone in UNESCO's Human Evolution, Adaptations, Dispersals and Social Developments (HEADS) programme. For 11 years, the site has played a vital role in advancing global understanding of early human migration, adaptation, and survival in desert environments. This long-term collaboration between Sharjah and UNESCO HEADS programme has established Faya as a global reference point in palaeoanthropology and archaeology, placing the UAE at the centre of international scientific discourse on human origins. The property's uninterrupted record of over 210,000 years of human habitation has made it a key contributor to the evolving narrative of early life in Southeast Arabia. 'Faya's recognition in the HEADS programme for more than a decade is a testament to the UAE's commitment to safeguarding its ancient heritage,' said Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the official ambassador for Faya Palaeolandscape ongoing UNESCO World Heritage nomination. 'Sharjah has never viewed archaeology as merely a glimpse into the past, but as a vital part of our national identity and a platform for international cultural dialogue. Faya stands as evidence of how Sharjah combines scientific research with cultural vision, elevating the emirate as a leading contributor to global heritage. The site strengthens our cultural identity, supports cutting-edge research, and invites the world to explore how deeply rooted our region is in the story of human civilisation.' According to Eisa Yousif, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority (SAA), Faya has played a pivotal role in shaping international scientific discourse on early human life. 'Faya has long been a cornerstone in the global understanding of how early humans adapted, survived, and evolved in arid landscapes,' he said. 'Its archaeological record - spanning more than 210,000 years - reveals unprecedented insights into toolmaking, burial practices, and shifting lifestyles in response to climatic extremes. Faya challenges long-held assumptions and affirms that the Arabian Peninsula was not merely a corridor, but a cradle of human evolution in its own right. It demonstrates that early societies did not just pass through this region - they thrived here, innovated, and laid cultural and social foundations that deepen our understanding of human resilience.' As one of the few documented Stone Age desert landscapes in the world, Faya provides exceptional evidence of early modern human adaptation to hyper-arid environments over tens of thousands of years. From the earliest hunter-gatherer communities to pastoral nomadic herders with funeral practices, the archaeological record at Faya reveals how humans evolved socially, technologically and spiritually in response to extreme and changing climates. Beyond its regional significance, the property contributes to a larger global understanding of how early humans navigated survival, resource management, and social development in some of the harshest conditions on Earth. The sediment layers and preserved palaeoenvironmental features at Faya have made it a key site for understanding water availability, vegetation distribution, and climatic shifts during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. These findings offer invaluable insight not only into human resilience but also into wider environmental transformations that shaped early civilisations. Faya is part of key sites recognised by the UNESCO HEADS programme for their critical contributions to human evolutionary studies, including Klasies River Caves, Border Cave and Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa, and the Tchitundo-Hulu Rock Art Site in Angola. What distinguishes Faya, however, is its location within the Arabian Peninsula - a region previously understudied in global narratives of human migration. Faya is now helping reshape that narrative, anchoring Arabia as a key locus in the shared history of species. WAM
