Sharjah launches new office to protect and manage World Heritage sites

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Sharjah World Heritage Office will oversee heritage site protection, UNESCO nominations and cultural preservation projects across the emirate.

SHARJAH: The Sharjah Archaeology Authority has launched the Sharjah World Heritage Office to strengthen the protection and management of heritage sites across the emirate.

The new office was established following an Emiri Decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, approving the authority’s organisational structure. The move also follows the inscription of Faya on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025.

Officials said the Sharjah World Heritage Office will oversee listed, nominated and potential heritage sites while ensuring they are managed according to international standards. The office will also coordinate research, documentation, conservation plans and nomination files for sites considered to have Outstanding Universal Value.

The authority explained that the office will create digital databases and detailed records for cultural heritage sites while supporting future UNESCO nominations. It will also supervise the international AED2 million Faya Research Grant programme established by the Sharjah government.

Eisa Yousif, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, said the launch marks a major step in preserving sites of historical and cultural importance for future generations. He added that Sharjah’s vision views heritage as part of human knowledge and cultural identity rather than simply a record of the past.

The office will work closely with organisations including UNESCO, ICCROM, ICOMOS and the International Union for Conservation of Nature to strengthen international cooperation and heritage expertise.

Authorities said the Sharjah World Heritage Office will also coordinate with government entities to balance urban development with heritage protection through planning regulations and Heritage Impact Assessments for future projects.

Alongside its technical role, the office will organise local and international awareness programmes highlighting the importance of cultural heritage and sustainable preservation efforts.

The initiative reinforces Sharjah’s growing role as a regional centre for heritage research, conservation and cultural knowledge.

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