UAE is a source of civilization and culture

Abu Dhabi - The United Arab Emirates has more than 200 islands of historical and heritage value and has many natural reserves and mountain ranges.

The UAE is participating today in celebrations for the World Day of Heritage, in order to increase awareness of the diversity of world heritage and the required efforts to protect and preserve it.

The United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organisation, Unesco, has celebrated World Day of Heritage since 1983.

The idea of the celebration began during the First World War, which left considerable damage in the world, growing more in the aftermath of World War II. Agreements and meetings that aim to protect the heritage and monuments of the world from natural and human threats continued up to the year 1978, where the first 12 locations in the world were placed on the Unesco World Heritage List. Today, the list includes 1,011 locations, divided into 782 cultural sites and 229 natural sites or mixed. Within this list are 70 sites based in the Arab world.

The United Arab Emirates has more than 200 islands of historical and heritage value and has many natural reserves and mountain ranges. The state celebrates World Heritage this year knowing it has more than 3,100 historic buildings, including 600 in Abu Dhabi, 550 in Dubai, 600 in Sharjah, 50 in Ajman, 150 in Umm Al Quwain, 550 in Fujairah and 600 in Ras Al Khaimah.

A thriving cultural legacy

Archaeological sites including forts, towers, cemeteries, houses and mosques across the Emirates are the most prominent evidence of the UAE's history that embodies the Emirati contribution to human civilisation.

Al Ain became the first Emirati archaeological site to be included on the list of the World Heritage, the decision for which was taken during the 35th meeting of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO at the organisation's headquarters in Paris during the summer of 2011.

Unesco included Al Ain City on this important list after six years of continuous efforts from the UAE, and the organisation based its decision on the geological, archaeological and historical importance of Jebel Hafit, which is located on the outskirts of the city, as well as Hili Civilisation, and other facilities of historical significance, such as the 'Bida Bint Saud', oases areas and fallaj system, which was used for water management and conservation.

The great diversity of historical and archaeological sites throughout the territory of the UAE reflects its historical value and what it represents as a point of intersection for human civilisations through the ages.

The UAE has adopted strategies to ensure cooperation between all local bodies which are in charge of monuments, museums and nature reserves across the emirates, in addition to organising cooperation with international organisations specialised in the field.

Among the most important museums in the UAE are the Museums of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain, while in Sharjah there is Al Hisn Fort and the Archaeology Museum, Islamic Museum, and the Sharjah Museum for Arts and Science Museum.

This cooperation and continuous effort led to the nomination of seven Emirati sites in the preliminary list of world heritage sites, of which there are three in Sharjah, and one each in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah. The addition of these candidate sites to the global list contributes to highlighting the rich heritage of the UAE.

Today, the UAE is participating in World Heritage Day and celebrating Emirati elements registered in Unesco's list of Intangible Cultural and Humanitarian Heritage, reflecting the nation's efforts to preserve its authentic heritage and ancient culture.

• UAE