Must-Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the UAE

 

Since the 1970s, the World Heritage Sites list has been developed by UNESCO to demarcate culturally and historically relevant places that must be protected and preserved. These sites have also become major attractions for tourists. Kavan Choksi explores some of the UAE’s World Heritage sites below.

Image source: desertrosetourism.com

Al Ain Oasis, Abu Dhabi

Al Ain Oasis, a 4,000-year-old settlement, is situated in the middle of the Rub al Khali desert. It is the biggest oasis in the region, covering 1,200 hectares filled with hundreds of thousands of date palms and fruit trees. Legend has it that the UAE's founder, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, was born in this oasis underneath the shade of the site's majestic trees. Al Ain Oasis visitors can catch a glimpse of the still-working Falaj irrigation system, which is what has nourished the local grasslands for millennia.

Hili Archaeological Park, Abu Dhabi

Just 15 kilometers outside Al Ain is the Hili Archaeological Park, an area that combines a public garden containing an expansive archaeological site with a history that dates to the Bronze Age. Kavan Choksi recommends bringing along your family because the park has family-friendly spaces and a play area for children. One of the park's most noteworthy structures is the Hill Grand Tomb, a tower with a diameter of 12 meters that was used as a burial ground by the Umm al-Nar Island settlement.

Image source: abudhabiculture.ae

Jebel Hafeet Tombs, Abu Dhabi

The Jebel Hafeet Tombs are distinct because of the beehive-shaped tombs that fill the area. To this day, hundreds of tombs have been discovered, with the artifacts showing that the place was built between 3,000 and 2,500 BCE. Unfortunately, the site is closed to visitors, but it can be viewed from the foothills of Jebel Hafeet Mountain. According to Kavan Choksi, there are other leisurely pursuits in and around Jebel Hafeet, including enjoying the panoramic views of the city from the top of the mountains, paying a visit to the Al Ain Zoo, or relaxing at the Mercure Jebel Hafeet Hotel.

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