Sharjah // The Heart of Sharjah historical area has been listed as a potential Unesco World Heritage Site.
Officials from the United Nations cultural organisation will visit the heritage project over two years before making their recommendation.
Unesco world heritage sites must be places of outstanding natural importance, such as a forest, mountain, island, or man-made structures of cultural significance, such as buildings or a city.
Unesco protects them and helps with their maintenance.
The UAE has had one site on the list since 2011: the heritage areas of Al Ain, including its oases.
The Heart of Sharjah is the oldest part of the emirate and contributed to the development of trade.
Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed, Ruler of Sharjah, and Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, who chairs Shurooq, the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, formed a task force to nominate the Heart of Sharjah area for the Unesco list.
“The Heart of Sharjah has a multitude of historical and heritage sites which have outstanding historical value, as Sharjah served as a point of convergence of civilisations, a transit road for trade caravans on sea and land and a meeting point between people and tribes,” said Sheikha Bodour.
“We will work to add this area of rich heritage to the list of World Heritage Sites to introduce the significant value of the UAE’s history to the world.”
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