The Emirate of Sharjah seeks to include eight of its most important heritage sites on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The emirate submitted its nomination to UNESCO last March in a file entitled “Sharjah: Gateway to the Trucial Emirates” under the supervision of both the Administrative Office “Sharjah: Gateway to the Trucial Emirates” and the Supreme Committee for the file, which was specifically formed to follow up on developments in the nomination and ensure the cooperation of all parties in order to reach the goal.
The Emirate of Sharjah, known for its continuous efforts to revive heritage and preserve the Emirati identity, embraces distinct cultural heritage landmarks that reflect a cultural heritage, a comprehensive human experience, and milestones that remain over time, from which the residents of the Emirates draw feelings of pride and pride in their identity, customs, and traditions.
These ancient historical heritage monuments send a message to the world that the United Arab Emirates has roots that converge with the historical roots of the region’s population and demonstrate the notable role of its people in maintaining peace and reconciliation in the Gulf region.
Sharjah’s endeavors come as a continuation of the entire cultural, civilizational and humanitarian scene of the emirate and a translation of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, a historian and interested in human history as much as he is interested in his present and future.
The UNESCO World Heritage List includes the most important heritage sites that played a role in the lives of nations and peoples and influenced human history. If the nomination project is successful, it will be an Emirati achievement and international recognition of the importance of the role that the Emirates played in shaping the history of the region.
The eight nominated sites in the file narrate the history of the region during the 19th and 20th centuries, specifically during the period of the Trucial States, which extended between 1820 AD and 1971 AD, that era that witnessed many influential changes and crystallized a state of stability, security, and development, leading to the period of the establishment of the “Union of the United Arab Emirates.” “United.”
The nominated sites are in the historic city of Sharjah, “the heart of Sharjah,” which is considered one of the most important urban heritage landmarks in the Emirates. This importance stems from the history of this place, the historical narratives contained in its alleys and walls, and the important and pivotal events this city witnessed that are engraved in the history of Emirati memory.
The strategic location of the historic city of Sharjah and its vital port helped the emirate occupy a prominent position on the map of commercial activity since ancient times, and this appears in historical books and documents, including what the Arab Muslim scholar Al-Sharif Al-Idrisi mentioned in one of his books, in which he described the port of Sharjah in 1756 as one of the most important main ports on the coast between… Qatif in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Sir Ras Al Khaimah.
During the Trucial States period, the city continued to play its influential strategic role in bringing about developments at all levels. The historic city of Sharjah was the gateway to the Trucial States to receive everything new by receiving people coming from the sea or land, and thus it became a gateway to cultural exchange and economic, political and social development.
Due to the importance that the city occupies, efforts have continued to preserve the distinctive historical features of the city of Sharjah, and the heart of Sharjah still exudes the scent of history because it contains residences, forts, and buildings characterized by a heritage architectural character that forms the unique features of the place.
The fort is the second nominated site. This building has long been considered by the Emiratis to be a lofty symbol that reflects the Emirati heritage and the history of Sharjah and its rulers, as the fort was in the past the residence of the ruling Al Qasimi family.
The fort building witnessed important political events and was a headquarters for politicians to gather and discuss the most important treaties and decisions that changed the course of historical events in the Trucial States region and its environs.
These discussions and the resulting agreements contributed to achieving a state of safety and stability in the region, which brought about a shift in urbanization and development that included all the residents of the neighboring emirates. By virtue of its strategic location between the sea and the desert and its height, the fort was one of the most important defensive buildings during that period.
The third air terminal airport comes, which was established during the Trucial States period, specifically in the 1930s, and was then the first airport in the Emirates.
After its establishment, Al Mahatta Airport became an essential link between Europe and Asia, as it was used as a resting place for aircraft and passengers between Britain and India. Thus, the airport became the first air gateway linking the Trucial States and the world.
In addition to its role in receiving travelers and stimulating the movement of cultural and social exchange in the Trucial States region, the airport played a prominent social and progressive role, as it was the first postal headquarters and foreign doctors and nurses were brought through it, who contributed to introducing modern medicine to the region, thus strengthening Sharjah’s role as a vital gateway to development and modernity.
Until 1964, Al Mahatta Airport was the training and establishment headquarters for the “Oman Coast Force,” which was established on May 11, 1951, and whose name was later changed to “The Trucial States Scouts.” Its members were the defense forces responsible for protecting and ensuring security in the Trucial States region.
The efforts of the members of the Trucial States Scouts in maintaining security contributed greatly to enhancing the climate of development and urbanization. As a result of the influential role played by the airport, it was transformed in the year 2000 into the “Sharjah Air Station Museum.”
Al-Mirqab Camp is considered the fourth candidate site. The station was the residence and training headquarters for military forces in the beginning, but the development of the forces and the increase in their numbers created a need for a larger and more advanced military headquarters, and here came the decision to establish Al-Mirqab Camp.
The camp was the most advanced military site in the region in terms of organizing soldiers, companies, and military equipment. It also contained a school to educate the people of the region and a hospital to treat patients. Thus, the role of the camp went beyond merely a headquarters for protecting security and stability to a gateway to development, urbanization, and education.
The camp witnessed the formation of the Defense Forces, which became the nucleus of the UAE Army when the Trucial States Scouts were transformed into the Union Defense Force in 1971 by a decision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan – may God have mercy on him – which was known in 1974 as the Federal Armed Forces.
Al Mirqab Camp still bears witness to the beginnings of the formation of the military institution of the United Arab Emirates. The camp headquarters contains to this day a number of old British devices and mechanisms that were used during the Trucial States period. The contents of the old camp are still in good condition as they have been constantly maintained and preserved, which has It increases its importance and value worldwide.
Al Dhaid Fort and Oasis is the fifth nominated site. Al Dhaid is located at a crossroads for transporting caravans and traveling by land between the regions of the Emirates. It contains castles and fortresses that have been inhabited by people for hundreds of years. By virtue of containing an oasis, Al Dhaid was during that era a place to spend the hot summer period.
Among the most important historical sites in Al Dhaid is the site nominated in the file, which contains the historic Al Dhaid Castle, which was called “Al Qawasim Castle.” It is surrounded by a number of water aflaj whose excavations date back hundreds of years, and a palm oasis, in addition to a number of watchtowers that were used to monitor and protect caravan routes. From any attack.
It should be noted that all the inhabitants of that region are tribes with authentic Arab roots, and the people still maintain the authentic Arab customs and traditions inherited from grandfathers and fathers.
While the Flee Castles cross the sixth of the nominated sites, which played a pivotal role during the Trucial States period in connecting the regions of the Emirates via land roads. The nominated site includes two castles that were built on hills of varying heights so that those inside them can see the borders of the place, ensure the safety of convoys, and protect the surrounding water sources. It also contains On an old falaj dating back hundreds of years that was used to transport water from its sources to the two towers.
The castle, built at a low height, continued to be used as a protection headquarters, as it was later used as a police headquarters before the place was evacuated and considered an archaeological site that must be preserved.
The historic village in Wadi Al-Hilu is the seventh nominated site, as “Wadi Al-Hilu” reflects the stability of the population and their way of life in the past, specifically during the Trucial States period, when the valley region witnessed stability and agricultural prosperity, and the valley’s agricultural products were transported to the ports of the Emirate of Sharjah for export.
The strong relations between Wadi Al-Hilu and the city of Sharjah continued, as the valley’s relationship with Sharjah was one of support and communication, as it constituted an important source of income, and it is said that the Al-Qawasim guards were usually residents of Wadi Al-Hilu.
The nominated site in the valley contains the ruins of buildings that reflect the agricultural lifestyle in the mountainous regions, in addition to a historical village with a heritage house whose architectural style, which mixes local and foreign architecture, tells us about the cultural exchange that the valley witnessed during the Trucial States period, as the valley received merchants and visitors from the regions. They came bringing with them different ideas and cultures.
Finally, Khor Fakkan Castle, the “archaeological site,” is the eighth nominated site. Khor Fakkan formed the eastern sea gateway to the emirate and the meeting point of the ancient sea routes linking Europe to Asia. The nominated site in the file includes a historical village inside which is an old castle whose construction dates back to the period of the Portuguese invasion during the seventeenth century.
Residents continued to visit the castle, as it was rebuilt twice, the last of which was by Al-Qawasim, and it became known during the Trucial States period as “Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi Castle.” The castle and the coastal area opposite it are considered an example of maritime economic activity in Sharjah over the years.
This cultural, economic and geographical interconnection between the sites and the role that some sites played as a land, sea and air gateway that linked the Trucial States to the world made Sharjah a gateway to communication and cultural and technological development that spread throughout the region, and each site reflects part of this role so that the picture is eventually completed across the eight sites so that Sharjah becomes a communication gateway. Land, sea and air contributed to paving the way for urbanization that intensified as the Trucial States later became, thanks to the combined efforts of its rulers, the United Arab Emirates.
