UNESCO Sites in the UAE
The sites on the map
- 1 Cultural Sites of Al Ain Abu Dhabi · World Heritage 2011
- 2 Faya Palaeolandscape Sharjah · World Heritage 2025
- 3 Wadi Wurayah Fujairah · World Heritage 2026, Biosphere reserve 2018
- 4 Marawah Biosphere Reserve Abu Dhabi · Biosphere reserve 2007
- 5 Settlement and Cemetery of Umm an-Nar Island Abu Dhabi · Tentative List 2012
- 6 Sir Bu Nair Island Sharjah · Tentative List 2012
- 7 Khor Dubai Dubai · Tentative List 2012
- 8 Ed-Dur Umm Al Quwain · Tentative List 2012
- 9 Al Bidya Mosque Fujairah · Tentative List 2012
- 10 Sharjah: the Gate to Trucial States Sharjah · Tentative List 2014
- 11 Abu Dhabi Sabkha Abu Dhabi · Tentative List 2018
- 12 Pearl trading town of Jazirat Al-Hamra Ras Al Khaimah · Tentative List 2020
- 13 Trading town of Julfar Ras Al Khaimah · Tentative List 2020
- 14 Wadi Al Helo (Bronze Age copper) Sharjah · Tentative List 2023
- 15 Rock art of the Emirate of Sharjah Sharjah · Tentative List 2023
- 16 Mleiha Sharjah · Tentative List 2023
- 17 Hatta Archaeological Landscape Dubai · Tentative List 2023
- 18 Coastal Fortified Network of South Eastern Arabia Sharjah · Tentative List 2026
- 19 Shimal and Dhayah Bronze Age Cemeteries and Settlements Ras Al Khaimah · Tentative List 2026
Each number is a site: red for the World Heritage cultural properties, green for the natural one, blue for the biosphere reserve and orange for the Tentative List. Hover over a number, or tap it on a phone, to see the site; click it to go to its description. Sites with several parts are placed at their main part.1
On the World Heritage List
The UAE joined the World Heritage Convention on 11 May 2001. Its three properties were inscribed in 2011, 2025 and 2026.1
Cultural Sites of Al Ain (2011, cultural). Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and the oases form a serial property of 17 components over 4,945 hectares, with circular stone tombs of about 2500 BC and aflaj irrigation channels in use since the Iron Age.2
Faya Palaeolandscape (2025, cultural). In the interior of Sharjah, the Faya landscape holds traces of human occupation from about 210,000 to 6,000 years ago, through climate swings that alternated about every 20,000 years. The property covers 29,085 hectares.3
Wadi Wurayah (2026, natural). A mountain wadi in Fujairah, inscribed for its ecosystems under criterion (ix). It covers 22,000 hectares and records 1,099 species, 883 of animals and 216 of plants, at least ten of them globally threatened. It is also a Ramsar wetland and a UNESCO biosphere reserve.4,5
The Tentative List
A Tentative List is the inventory of sites a country intends to nominate for the World Heritage List; nomination is only possible from it. The UAE list has 15 sites, added between 2012 and 2026. Each name links to its UNESCO record.1
| Site | Emirate | Type | Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settlement and Cemetery of Umm an-Nar Island | Abu Dhabi | Cultural | 2012 |
| Sir Bu Nair Island | Sharjah | Natural | 2012 |
| Khor Dubai | Dubai | Cultural | 2012 |
| Ed-Dur | Umm Al Quwain | Cultural | 2012 |
| Al Bidya Mosque | Fujairah | Cultural | 2012 |
| Sharjah: the Gate to Trucial States | Sharjah | Cultural | 2014 |
| Abu Dhabi Sabkha | Abu Dhabi | Natural | 2018 |
| Pearl trading town of Jazirat Al-Hamra | Ras Al Khaimah | Cultural | 2020 |
| Trading town of Julfar | Ras Al Khaimah | Cultural | 2020 |
| Wadi Al Helo (Bronze Age copper) | Sharjah | Cultural | 2023 |
| Rock art of the Emirate of Sharjah | Sharjah | Cultural | 2023 |
| Mleiha | Sharjah | Cultural | 2023 |
| Hatta Archaeological Landscape | Dubai | Cultural | 2023 |
| Coastal Fortified Network of South Eastern Arabia | Sharjah | Cultural | 2026 |
| Shimal and Dhayah Bronze Age Cemeteries and Settlements | Ras Al Khaimah | Cultural | 2026 |
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre: United Arab Emirates1
Biosphere reserves and Creative Cities
UNESCO biosphere reserves link conservation with local use. Marawah (2007) covers 545,500 hectares, almost all of it sea, along 120 km of Abu Dhabi coast, and is home to dugongs. Wadi Wurayah (2018) covers 27,729 hectares in Fujairah. Two cities belong to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.6,7
| Name | UNESCO programme | Emirate | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marawah | Biosphere reserve | Abu Dhabi | 2007 |
| Wadi Wurayah | Biosphere reserve | Fujairah | 2018 |
| Dubai | Creative City of Design | Dubai | 2017 |
| Sharjah | Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art | Sharjah | 2019 |
Source: UNESCO: Marawah Biosphere Reserve; UNESCO: Wadi Wurayah Biosphere Reserve; UNESCO Creative Cities Network: Dubai; UNESCO Creative Cities Network: Sharjah6,7,8,9
Intangible cultural heritage
UNESCO lists 21 elements of living heritage for the UAE, from Al-Taghrooda chanted poetry (2012) to the zaffa wedding procession (2025). Several are shared with other countries. Each links to its page on this site.10
| Element | UNESCO list | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Al Sadu weaving | Representative List | 2025 |
| Bisht (men's abaa) | Representative List | 2025 |
| Arabic kohl | Representative List | 2025 |
| Al Ahalla | Representative List | 2025 |
| Zaffa in the traditional wedding | Representative List | 2025 |
| Safeguarding programme for Al Sadu | Good Safeguarding Practices | 2025 |
| Arabic coffee | Representative List | 2024 |
| Henna | Representative List | 2024 |
| Harees | Representative List | 2023 |
| Al Talli embroidery | Representative List | 2022 |
| Alheda'a, calling camel herds | Representative List | 2022 |
| Date palm | Representative List | 2022 |
| Falconry | Representative List | 2021 |
| Arabic calligraphy | Representative List | 2021 |
| Camel racing | Representative List | 2020 |
| Al Aflaj irrigation | Representative List | 2020 |
| Al Azi poetry | Urgent Safeguarding | 2017 |
| Majlis | Representative List | 2015 |
| Al-Razfa | Representative List | 2015 |
| Al-Ayyala | Representative List | 2014 |
| Al-Taghrooda | Representative List | 2012 |
Source: UNESCO: Intangible cultural heritage of the United Arab Emirates10
Frequently Asked Questions
How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in the UAE?
Three: the Cultural Sites of Al Ain (inscribed in 2011), the Faya Palaeolandscape in Sharjah (2025) and Wadi Wurayah in Fujairah (2026). Fifteen more sites are on the UAE Tentative List.
Which is the newest UNESCO site in the UAE?
Wadi Wurayah in Fujairah, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2026 as a natural property. It was already a UNESCO biosphere reserve, since 2018.
What is the UAE Tentative List?
It is the list of sites the UAE intends to nominate for the World Heritage List. It has 15 sites, including Mleiha, Hatta, Khor Dubai, Ed-Dur, Julfar and Umm an-Nar Island.
Which UAE traditions are on UNESCO lists?
Twenty-one elements, including falconry, the majlis, Arabic coffee, Al Sadu weaving, camel racing, the date palm, henna, harees and Al-Taghrooda poetry.
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: United Arab Emirates
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Faya Palaeolandscape
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Wadi Wurayah
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Decision 48 COM 8B.7 (Wadi Wurayah)
- UNESCO: Marawah Biosphere Reserve
- UNESCO: Wadi Wurayah Biosphere Reserve
- UNESCO Creative Cities Network: Dubai
- UNESCO Creative Cities Network: Sharjah
- UNESCO: Intangible cultural heritage of the United Arab Emirates
Figures checked 7 November 2026. Prepared by Invest-Emirates.ae for general information. Figures come from the sources listed.
