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Consistent with the Operational Guidelines of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the model sets out unified planning and development standards to protect the site’s authenticity while enabling carefully managed, sustainable growth.
The system was developed following a specialised three-day workshop held from 14–16 April 2026 at SAA headquarters and the Faya site, which brought together key stakeholders across planning, infrastructure, environment, tourism, and culture.
Sharjah Department of Town Planning and Survey, Sharjah Housing Department, Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority, Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority, Sharjah Public Works Department, Mubadara, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Environment and Protected Areas Authority, and the Department of Agriculture and Livestock were all present at the gatherings.
Delivered by SAA’s Tangible Cultural Heritage Department, the workshop focused on embedding conservation-led planning into development processes, ensuring that all future interventions are guided by scientific evidence, institutional clarity, and long-term stewardship objectives.
His Excellency Eisa Yousif, Director General of SAA, said: “This workshop marks a critical step towards translating Faya’s World Heritage status into a clear, actionable approach. It establishes a unified understanding that development must remain intrinsically linked to preservation, with heritage considerations embedded at the heart of planning.”
He added: “It strengthens institutional alignment and enhances our ability to make informed development decisions that safeguard the site’s authenticity and Outstanding Universal Value over the long term.”
For his part, His Excellency Engineer Hamad Juma Al Shamsi, Chairman of the Department of Town Planning and Survey, said: “The establishment of a joint technical committee comprising the Sharjah Department of Town Planning and Survey and the Sharjah Housing Department marks a key step towards unifying the technical and regulatory frameworks for developing the Faya World Heritage Site. The committee will oversee planning and regulatory coordination, masterplanning, and the documentation of the site’s infrastructure and landmarks, ensuring alignment with international standards.”
He added: “Through this committee, we are developing an integrated framework, grounded in accurate data and advanced geographic information systems, to support informed planning decisions that protect the site and preserve its authenticity and integrity. This integration among relevant entities establishes an advanced model for heritage site management, based on institutional coordination and clearly defined roles, ensuring that all future works align with its Outstanding Universal Value.”
The workshop’s first day focused on urban development standards in World Heritage contexts, highlighting Faya’s global significance as one of the oldest and most continuous records of human presence in arid environments, dating back more than 200,000 years.
International benchmarks and case studies informed Faya’s urban regulatory approach, including lessons from the Cultural Sites of Al Ain, inscribed in 2011. Discussions focused on integrating urban planning with heritage protection while safeguarding tangible and intangible cultural assets.
The workshop reaffirmed Faya’s status as a site of global scientific importance and a national asset, with the protection of its authenticity and integrity set as a central priority through a unified, cross-government structure.
Day two featured a field visit to Faya, offering participants direct insight into the attributes that define its Outstanding Universal Value. The visit covered key archaeological features, including rock shelters, cave systems, and Neolithic burial sites, as well as the surrounding development zones.
The field assessment reinforced the need for coordinated institutional action and clarified the roles of each entity within a unified site management framework to ensure effective protection and oversight.
The final day focused on translating outcomes into action. Participating entities reviewed control measures in the site’s management plan, assessed current gaps, and contributed to the development of an updated executive action plan governing urban and development controls.
The resulting model is designed to unify institutional efforts and ensure that all development activities at Faya adhere to the highest international standards, supporting its long-term protection as a World Heritage Property and as a legacy for future generations.
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