The UAE has achieved a new global milestone after Fujairah’s Wadi Wurayah was inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List.
The recognition,
approved during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan,
highlights the site’s international importance as a significant natural
heritage area.
Sheikh Mohammed bin
Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah and Ambassador of the Wadi Wurayah
nomination file to Unesco, affirmed that this historic achievement represents a
significant milestone in the accomplishments of both the UAE and the Emirate of
Fujairah.
He underlined it as an
exceptional moment in the nation's journey and global standing, reflecting the
UAE's commitment to preserving and protecting its natural sites in accordance
with leading international standards.
Sheikh Mohammed said
that this moment, filled with pride, embodies the vision of the Fujairah
government under the leadership of Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member
of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah, to preserve this site for its
great human significance and its cultural and natural richness throughout
history.
He noted that Wadi
Wurayah now stands as a global model, enjoying international appreciation and
interest, and as an important addition to the UAE's reputation on the world
stage.
Sheikh Mohammed also
affirmed that the inscription of Wadi Wurayah Reserve among Unesco's World
Heritage sites underscores the reserve's significance, due to its unique
environmental and geological characteristics as well as its scientific,
environmental, and cultural value.
He emphasised that
this achievement reflects the efforts of the UAE and the Emirate of Fujairah to
preserve sites of outstanding universal value, support the ecosystem, and
ensure safety and sustainability for future generations.
Sheikh Mohammed
highlighted the value of the site as an integrated and balanced ecosystem,
reflecting the harmony between humans and their environment throughout history.
He noted that Wadi
Wurayah forms a unique, living system that sustains vital natural processes
over time, extending the UAE’s national vision of promoting shared
responsibility, both nationally and globally, to protect natural heritage and
achieve sustainable development.
For his part, Sheikh
Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture and Chair of the UAE National
Commission for Education, Culture and Science, said: “The inscription of Wadi
Wurayah on the Unesco World Heritage List represents a strategic national
achievement that further strengthens the UAE’s leading position in protecting
natural heritage and preserving biodiversity. It embodies a national vision
that places heritage at the heart of national identity, positions it as a
driver of sustainable development, and recognises its preservation as a shared
responsibility towards humanity and future generations. As the third UAE site
to be inscribed on the List and the first site to be designated for its outstanding
natural value, Wadi Wurayah expands the country’s presence on the global
heritage map. It reflects the success of its approach to protecting natural
resources while harnessing their scientific, intellectual, and developmental
value.”
AL Qassimi added:
“This milestone is the result of an integrated national effort, in which the
UAE National Commission for Education, Culture and Science played a pivotal
role. The Commission aligned the work of the Ministry of Culture, Fujairah
Environment Authority, and the relevant entities, while strengthening
cooperation with Unesco. This institutional alignment highlights Wadi Wurayah’s
outstanding universal value.”
AL Qassimi affirmed
that Wadi Wurayah, with its rich biodiversity and rare ecosystems, holds
significance that extends beyond its geographical boundaries. As a natural and
scientific reference, it contributes to the advancement of human knowledge. Its
World Heritage status will broaden the scope for international partnerships,
the exchange of expertise, and the production of specialised knowledge, while
bringing the UAE’s experience in natural heritage stewardship to global
attention.
Dr Ahmed Al Zeyoudi,
Director of the Office of the Crown Prince of Fujairah, stated that this
historic win is a significant achievement, reflecting the Fujairah government's
strong commitment to the Wadi Wurayah and its ongoing efforts to preserve the
site according to the highest international standards. H.E. Dr. Al Zeyoudi affirmed
that work will continue to transform the reserve into a global destination that
showcases the deep-rooted relationship between humans and nature, and to ensure
its significance for future generations.
Asilah Al Mualla,
Director-General of the Fujairah Environment Authority, expressed her gratitude
to the World Heritage Committee, members of the advisory body, and the World
Heritage Centre at Unesco for this international recognition of Wadi Wurayah
Reserve.
Al Mualla emphasised
that the site’s inscription on the Unesco World Heritage List holds global
value, as it is a key center of biodiversity and ecosystems in the region, and
the last and most authentic of the pristine ecosystems of the arid foothill
region in the Hajar Mountains of the Arabian Peninsula.
Al Mualla added:
"Wadi Wurayah is one of the few sources of permanent surface water in the
UAE and is home to the country's only permanent natural waterfall. The reserve
also shelters many rare and endangered species of animals, plants, reptiles, and
insects, along with several mammals and birds unique to the site. This makes
Wadi Wurayah a prime example of the vital ecological processes that have
shaped, over centuries, the evolution of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and
marine ecosystems, as well as plant and animal communities." -TradeArabia News Service