Abu dhabi: The Sharjah Archaeology Authority has announced the addition of the Coastal Fortified Network of South Eastern Arabia in Sharjah to UNESCO's Tentative List for World Heritage. This marks a significant milestone, enhancing the emirate's global cultural heritage presence and supporting its ongoing efforts to document, protect, and preserve sites of historical and human significance for future generations.
According to Emirates News Agency, the submission file prepared by the Authority's Sharjah World Heritage Office is based on the historical and cultural significance of the serial property, which includes Dibba Al-Hisn, Khor Fakkan, and Khor Kalba. These sites formed a strategic maritime corridor along the Oman Sea across successive historical periods.
The network showcases archaeological and architectural evidence of the crucial role played by coastal communities in maritime trade, navigation, defense, and coastal administration. It illustrates the transformation of maritime authority and commercial exchange across the western Indian Ocean.
The history of the network spans more than two millennia, from its ports' integration into Indian Ocean trade networks through the Kingdom of Hormuz and the Portuguese presence during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, to local administration under Al Qasimi authority. This new addition brings the total number of UAE sites on the Tentative List to 16, with six in Sharjah, reflecting the emirate's efforts to highlight its archaeological and cultural significance internationally.
H.H. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Book Culture, emphasized the importance of heritage as a responsibility that extends into the future. She highlighted the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, who established scientific research and heritage conservation as key pillars of Sharjah's cultural project.
Dibba Al-Hisn, the northern component of the property, reveals archaeological layers documenting settlement from the Neolithic period through the twentieth century. Khor Fakkan, the central component, features two fortified sites and a historic town wall, reflecting its strategic maritime role. Khor Kalba, the southern component, was a fortified settlement of the Kingdom of Hormuz and later became part of the Al Qawasim maritime sphere.
Eisa Yousif, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, stated that this inclusion is a significant milestone in research and preservation efforts. The focus now shifts to intensifying archaeological research and studies to deepen scientific understanding and support future international nomination processes.
This recognition builds on Sharjah's commitment to archaeological research and heritage conservation, highlighted by the inscription of the Faya Palaeolandscape on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2025, following the inscription of the Cultural Sites of Al Ain in 2011.