Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth and Chairperson of the National Education, Culture and Science Committee announced inclusion of four sites from Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE’s tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites. The current addition makes total number of sites to 12.

These archeological sites represent the historical remains of 5,000 years old history of the region, and coinstitute an integral part of the respective emirates.

“The sites at Dhayah and Shimal offer a record of our distant past as well as our more recent history. Eight sites from other Emirates are already on the UNESCO tentative world heritage site listing, while Al Ain has already been formally inscribed on the list. The  Ministry of Culture and Youth will continue to work with the relevant local departments to complete the process of UNESCO listing. This helps to gain international recognition for our heritage.”

These site include

• The old port city of Julfar lies on the coastal  plain north of Ra’s al-Khaimah
• The pearling town of Jazirah al-Hamra
• Shimal, stretching over three kilometres along the north coast of Ras Al Khaimah
• Dhayah, steep mountains overlooking western coastal lagoon

Noura Al Kaabi, further said, the new sites will strengthen the UAE’s global presence on the cultural tourism map, nothing that the country has a clear joint agenda with UNESCO, in cooperation with friendly countries, to preserve and ensure the sustainability of cultural heritage and make it an efficient tool in economic development.

News courtesy: WAM