Faya Palaeolandscape: Preserving the Past, Inspiring Responsible Travel
The inscription of the Faya Palaeolandscape in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2025 is a landmark recognition of its universal value. As the only Arab site inscribed this year, it emphasizes the role of the Arabian Peninsula and the United Arab Emirates in early human history, with traces of human presence dating back over 210,000 years. This recognition is not only about celebrating scientific and cultural heritage but also about reinforcing a model of responsible tourism.
Located in the heart of Sharjah, the Faya Palaeolandscape illustrates how the United Arab Emirates has invested in research, preservation, and international collaboration for more than three decades. By integrating conservation, education, and community engagement, the UAE’s management plan for Faya aims to safeguard its fragile desert ecosystem while allowing visitors to learn from its deep historical significance.
Responsible tourism in this context means limiting environmental impact, promoting cultural awareness, and ensuring that local communities benefit from heritage protection and sustainable visitor flows.
The case of Faya in the United Arab Emirates demonstrates that safeguarding heritage and promoting tourism are not contradictory goals. On the contrary, when carefully managed, they complement each other, making the site a living example of how World Heritage status can serve as a catalyst for responsible tourism practices across the UAE and the wider region.
More information on https://whc.unesco.org/fr/list/1735/
