Four Sharjah Sites Added to Islamic World Heritage List

Four archaeological sites in Sharjah have been inscribed on the Islamic World Heritage List, according to the Sharjah Archaeology Authority.
The Islamic World Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation added Wadi Al Helo, the prehistoric cultural landscape of Al Faya, the historic Al Nahwa area, and the towers and forts of Khor Fakkan to its list.
Each of the sites represents a distinct chapter in the emirate’s history. Wadi Al Helo is recognised as a significant location for Bronze Age copper mining. Al Faya documents early human settlement within a prehistoric cultural landscape, reflecting some of the region’s earliest known habitation patterns.
The Al Nahwa area preserves elements of traditional mountain life, including an ancient mosque, while the towers and forts of Khor Fakkan form part of a historic defensive network linked to maritime trade along the Gulf of Oman.
With these additions, the total number of Sharjah sites recognised on the Islamic World Heritage List now stands at 10. Al Faya’s palaeolandscape was also inscribed on the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage List in 2025 in recognition of its long record of ancient human habitation.