Sharjah’s Oldest Inhabited Site Added to UNESCO's World Heritage List

Faya, an ancient archaeological site in Sharjah's Mleiha region, has officially been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The announcement was made during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee held in New Delhi, India.

Faya is part of the 'Umm Al Nar Culture and Stone Age Settlements' file, jointly submitted by the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. The site provides vital archaeological evidence of early human migration and settlement, dating back over 125,000 years, making it one of the oldest inhabited areas in the region. It includes rock shelters, stone tools, and signs of early human adaptation to desert environments.

Sharjah’s nomination was backed by extensive research and excavation efforts by local and international teams under the guidance of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and the Mleiha Archaeological Centre.