United Arab Emirates - Wadi Al Helo: Testimony of Bronze Age Copper Production

 Wadi Al Helo, or the sweet valley as the name indicates in Arabic, is home to multiple archaeological sites and historical layers located in the Hajjar Mountains of Sharjah, southeast of the Arabian Peninsula. The Wadi itself extends over an estimated area of 84 square kilometres, that bear testimony to the process and significance of copper mining and smelting during the Bronze Age and its role in the development of the transnational connections during this substantial period in the geocultural history of Southeast Arabia.

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United Arab Emirates - Hatta Archaeological Landscape (Emirate of Dubai)

 The small town of Hatta is situated at the foot of the Hajar Mountains, a chain that stretch out the south-eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, along the Gulf of Oman. This mountain range, shared by Oman and the United Arab Emirates, features the Samail ophiolite, the largest and best-preserved ophiolite complex in the world. The landscape of the region is characterized by high rocky mountains with towering peaks and water channels dug throughout the ages. The fertile valleys are rich in natural resources and water, due to seasonal rains in wadis and sources. Heavy rainfalls recharge the shallow groundwater, producing large floods that refill the reservoirs downstream, in particular the two major dams of Hatta and Al Ghabra. Hence, Hatta region embodies a rare and representative mountain freshwater ecosystem, which is home to a large number of species. To protect the biodiversity of this natural environment, a large area to the south of Hatta town has been internationally designated since 2019 as Hatta Mountain Reserve (Ramsar Site), and other zones of the region are protected as conservation areas by the Emirate of Dubai.

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United Arab Emirates - Wadi Wurayah National Park

Fujairah is the only member of the federation of the United Arab Emirates that lies exclusively on the country’s East Coast, overlooking the Gulf of Oman. It embraces a set of varied landscapes consisting of mountains, alluvial plains and coastal habitats. Among these is a land type that is representative of the Hajar Mountains.

The Wadi Wurayah water catchment area, now protected as part of the Wadi Wurayah National Park, WWNP, lies totally within a priority WWF Global 200 ecoregion, namely Ecoregion 127, (Arabian Highlands and Shrub-lands). This catchment area includes a unique set of perennial freshwater habitats in the form of springs, pools, riffles/streams and waterfalls. Within the WWNP, an area of outstanding natural beauty, there is a rich biodiversity of fauna and flora in an important montane habitat.

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United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi Sabkha

"The area of the coastal sabkha of Abu Dhabi is located on the southern coast of the Arabian Gulf, in the United Arab Emirates; west of the emirate of Abu Dhabi. It has been developed over the past 7000 years due to the wind erosion of pre‐existing dunes and progradation of subaqueous, intertidal, and supratidal carbonate sediments.

The Sabkha is a translation of the Arabic word (سبخه), geologically referring to any form of flat salt-encrusted desert that is usually lacks any significant plant cover due to the high concentration of salts and sediments where the level of groundwater is very low and may be zero in some locations. Sabkhas are geographically divided into two categories: Coastal Sabkha and Inland Sabkha."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

United Arab Emirates - Shimal

Shimal represents a dense archaeological landscape extending along the foothills of the Ru’us-al-Jabal mountains for over 3 km. It is characterized by gravel plains with acacia forests, which are overlooked by Ras al-Khaimah’s limestone mountains. In the west, Shimal borders the large palm garden areas on the fertile alluvial plain of both Wadi Bih and Wadi Haqil.

The extensive cultural site consists of more than 100 prehistoric tombs, prehistoric settlements, and a medieval palace. Its archaeological remains are outstanding for the Wadi Suq Period (2000-1600 BC), the Late Bronze Age Culture (1600-1300 BC), and the Middle Islamic Period (13th-16th century AD).

United Arab Emirates - Trading town of Julfar

Julfar is part of the Musandam Peninsula, and closely situated to the Strait of Hormuz, where the alluvial plains separate the limestone mountains of the Ru’us al-Jibal from the coast of the Gulf. Due to a unique geographical feature, the two outwash fans of Wadi Bih and Wadi Haqil are situated in close proximity collecting the majority of rainwater and sediments from the high rising mountains. This resulted in both wadi fans forming one of the largest arable region and palm garden area in the United Arab Emirates, due to their high rate of exploitable water and sedimentation. This fertile alluvial plain enabled the rise of the trading town of Julfar.

United Arab Emirates - The pearl trading town of Jazirat Al-Hamra

The 45 ha large former island was originally situated inside a lagoon off the southern coast of Ras al-Khaimah. Its south eastern end was almost connected to the mainland and fordable at all times. Towards the east, island and lagoon are bordering on the desert, where the first line of large sand dunes is still crowned by two watchtowers today, which originally defended Jazirat al-Hamra towards the desert. The towers also secured sweet water wells along the foot of the dunes, from where drinking water was brought to the island by donkey, as the marine environment of the town itself provided only brackish water for domestic use.

United Arab Emirates - The Cultural Landscape of Dhayah

Regarding its geographical setting and cultural landscape, Dhayah is one of the most impressive and important sites in the Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah. Surrouned by steep mountains rising up to 850 m on three sides, and bordered by a lagoon towards the west, the bay of Dhayah has attracted settled life throughout the millennia. Its crescent shaped gravel plain is covered with cultivation towards the coastline, where a rich marine habitat completes the resourceful area. Dhayah’s palm garden area is further characterized by a singular conically shaped hill, which visually dominates the oasis.

Settled during the last 5000 years, the bay of Dhayah and its different landscapes represent a condensed version of the Northern Emirates’ characteristic environments. The cultural landscape of Dhayah is an outstanding example for the display of Ras al-Khaimah’s rich and fertil nature and its cultural importance. Sandbars created by sediment transportation inside the Gulf protect the lagoon and its small islands, which are covered with mangroves. Between the steep rising mountains of Dhayah and the lagoon, fertile outwash fans of the wadis are covered with palm gardens, the core of past life. At the edge of the palm gardens and towards the foot of the mountains, a conical shaped hill serves as a natural defence post for the oasis. Since prehistoric times, both the palm gardens and the hill were used for settlements and fortification alike. Furthermore, a prehistoric cemetery is located at the foot of the mountains in Dhayah. The first range of the Ru’us al-Jabal mountains rises to a height of 800 m, where terraced fields and terraced stone villages, typical for the Musandam Peninsula, are part of the landscape.

United Arab Emirates - The Cultural Landscape of the Central Region in the Emirate of Sharjah

The central Sharjah region consists of three natural areas; these are: the section which lies to the west of the mountains comprised of desert dunes, and the eastern area which is a gravelly plain that extends up to Alhajar Mountain. The last section is the sedimentary maintains which lies in the middle of the area and extends in both north & south directions. The area forms a connecting link between many emirates through the routes connecting the south form Al-Ain towards the eastern region in the U.A.E. This road was used in the past by caravans loaded with trading items from the coasts of the northern emirates to Al Batinah region in the Sultanate of Oman. Naturally the region is characterized by the presence by a variety of perennial trees these like Algal, Samar and Sider in addition to the many annual plants that grow after the fall. Wilde animals like foxes live in the mountainous region while in the sandy areas live such creatures like hedgehogs and lizards. The region is also known as being a suitable shelter for many wild donkeys, in addition to a number of different kinds of emigrant birds. Sea fossils can be seen embedded within the layers of the sedimentary mountains in the region; these represent the natural history of the area. The mountainous region is also rich in its cultural heritage as reflected by archeological sites.

United Arab Emirates - Sir Bu Nair Island

The protected island Sir Bu Nair is one of the most important marine protected areas in the UAE for its contents of significant environmental elements, such as its geological formations, natural flora and Marine birds, island characterized by the nature scenery and sandy beaches that have been taken by sea turtles as a center for breeding. Sir Bu Nair is one of the most important hawksbill nesting sites within the entire Arabian Gulf and certainly by far the most important location in the UAE. Several important sea-birds have been recorded nesting at Sir Bu Nair, including lesser crested tern (Sterna bengalensis), great crested tern (Sterna bergi), red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) and Socotra cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis). Today sooty gulls and bridled terns (Onychoprion anaethetus) nest in large numbers at Sir Bu Nair although there are threats to nesting bridled terns from feral cat predation.

United Arab Emirates - Sharjah: the Gate to Trucial States

Sharjah, including its old port and old airport, is located in the old part of the Emirate of Sharjah in the northern United Arab Emirates. According to historical sources, this location contributed to the development of trade. Al Edrissy (an 11th century geographer) stated that there was a port in the existing location of Sharjah: "the road from Julfar to Bahrain penetrated the width of the sea of Qatar to the Sabkha Port", which was possible to have been the Port of Sharjah. According to historical sources in 1756 AD, "there are three locations on the coast between Al Katif (Qutif in Saudi Arabia) and Sir (Ras Al Khaima), which are Al Ajir, Qatar and Sharjah. These locations contained few residences from which the Basra dates and rice were brought to the Arabs of the desert by the pearl divers."

United Arab Emirates - Settlement and Cemetery of Umm an-Nar Island

The present size and shape of the island is different from what it used to be, as it has been enlarged by land reclamation and dredging. Despite extensive land reclamation the archaeological sites are well protected and preserved. The site is fenced off by a sound concrete wall with a total length of about 1760 metres. Access to the island at the time of preparing this document is through this bridge, but still restricted to pass holders only. The archaeological area comprises a settlement and a cemetery. The settlement which is located to the east and northeast of the cemetery in an area a few metres lower than the plateau, was divided into three main areas. Area A is the largest which seems to have been the nuclear part of the settlement and probably the earliest. Excavations at this mound revealed a well preserved house but without defining the exterior walls. Limited excavations were carried out later uncovering one large room which may well have been used as a sanctuary in addition at least ten rooms were encountered and only partly excavated.

United Arab Emirates - Al Bidya Mosque

This mosque is named as "Al Bidya Mosque" due to its location in Al Bidya area. Al Bidya is a large village in the Fujairah Emirate that form part of several other villages in the area including Al Fai, Al Jubail, Haqeel, Twai Bin Saada, Al Hara and Al Telae. Until recently, the population of these villages used Al Bidya Mosque for the Friday prayer "Al Jumu'ah". Al Bidya Mosqe is characterized, and distoguished from other old and modern mosques, by having four domes that are not equal in size. Each dome consists of multiple domes that mounted on top of the others, the first of which form the base of a large dome. The second smaller dome thogether with the third much smaller dome are crowned with a dome with tiny head. Collectively, all these domes are close to each other. All four domes are supported by one central pillar, which is the main pillar construction foundation are based on. Its central peak and roof bases carry four domes in a unique engineering system.