Sharjah has announced the launch of the Faya Research Grant, a new international scientific initiative worth Dh2 million, aimed at advancing research into one of the world’s most significant archaeological sites.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi
The grant was announced by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Ambassador of the Faya World Heritage Site, during a ceremony celebrating Faya’s recent inscription on the Unesco World Heritage List.
The initiative, which will run for three years, will promote the participation of young researchers, and provide opportunities for Emirati students to join scientific missions that contribute to expanding knowledge about the site and its role in human development. The grant will be managed by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority under the supervision of the Scientific Committee for the Faya World Heritage Site.
Speaking at the event, Sheikha Bodour said the inscription of Faya on the World Heritage List — a moment that the emirate has worked tirelessly towards for decades — marked a moment of gratitude rather than triumph. “What we felt was gratitude for the world’s recognition of our conviction, and for the understanding that the Faya site carries a story,” she said. “The voices of those who lived here hundreds of thousands of years ago deserve to be heard as part of our shared human history.”
The Faya historic site lies near Mleiha, at the foothills of the Faya mountain range, and is an area that has preserved evidence of human life spanning more than 200,000 years.
Significance of Faya
Sheikha Bodour highlighted Faya’s global importance, noting that the site has reshaped understanding of early human migration, adaptation and innovation. “Historically, the Arabian Peninsula was viewed merely as a passage between continents,” she said. “Faya has challenged this narrative, revealing that early humans returned, settled and adapted here, evolving over thousands of years.”
She added that discoveries at Faya continue to prompt historians and scientists to revisit long-held assumptions. “Our understanding of the human journey remains open to discovery and development,” she said.
She also highlighted the efforts made by the relevant institutions, including the Sharjah Archaeology Authority which worked closely with researchers and academics from prestigious international universities and institutions across the world to advance the work of excavation, study, analysis, and discovery over the years.
Opportunities
The ceremony was attended by Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the Unesco World Heritage Centre, who praised Sharjah’s efforts and described Faya’s inscription as a milestone in recognising humanity’s shared heritage. He noted that Faya is only the second site in the UAE to be added to the World Heritage List, after the Cultural Sites of Al Ain in 2011.
Assomo said Faya offers exceptional opportunities for continued research into early human life in arid environments while commending the Sharjah Archaeology Authority for its work in protecting and presenting the site.
At the ceremony, a short archival film documented the Faya site and its discoveries. This was followed by a ‘Faya Research Grant’ documentary film that narrated the initiative’s objectives, supporting future research and nurturing a new generation of young researchers.
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Nasreen Abdulla
Nasreen Abdulla is a Special Correspondent covering food, tech and human interest stories. When not...