Wadi Wurayah becomes UAE's first natural World Heritage site

Historic UNESCO recognition

Wadi Wurayah National Park in Fujairah has earned a place on UNESCO's World Heritage List, becoming the first site in the UAE to receive recognition for its Outstanding Universal Natural Value. The designation makes it the country's third World Heritage property, joining the Cultural Sites of Al Ain, inscribed in 2011 and encompassing Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and the oasis areas.

The announcement came during the 48th session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, where the committee reviewed the UAE's nomination dossier. The session examined nominations for 30 new sites on the World Heritage List and assessed the state of conservation of 147 already inscribed sites. The World Heritage List now encompasses 1,248 cultural, natural and mixed properties across 170 countries since the Convention's adoption in 1972.

Exceptional biodiversity

The inscription acknowledges Wadi Wurayah's exceptional natural significance, including its rich biodiversity, unique geological formations and role as one of the Arabian Peninsula's most important freshwater ecosystems. Spanning 220 square kilometres and covering more than 20 per cent of Fujairah's total area, the park shelters more than 1,099 species of living organisms, including 216 plant species, 114 bird species, 20 mammal species, and 30 reptile and amphibian species.

Rare and threatened species

Among the park's inhabitants are several rare and threatened species, including the Arabian Tahr, Caracal, and Blanford's Fox. The site also hosts the UAE's only native orchid, the Helleborine Orchid (Epipactis veratrifolia). The park's name derives from the Arabic word 'warrah,' referring to the reeds that flourish in its year-round wetlands near permanent ponds and streams.

Conservation milestone

The designation represents a milestone in the UAE's environmental conservation efforts and reflects the country's sustained commitment to protecting its natural heritage in line with international standards. Wadi Wurayah was first declared a protected area in 2009 under a decree issued by Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, becoming the UAE's first mountain protected area.

International recognition

The site's path to World Heritage status included earlier international recognitions. In 2010, it was designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance because of its freshwater ecosystem, and in 2018, it was registered as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

The UAE delegation, led by the Ministry of Culture and the Government of Fujairah, attended the World Heritage Committee session to follow the nomination process. The designation strengthens global recognition of Wadi Wurayah as a site of outstanding ecological importance while supporting ongoing efforts to preserve its ecosystems for future generations.

The reserve, already recognised as a protected area of national importance, is home to diverse plant and animal species, including several that are rare or threatened, and has long been regarded as one of the country's most significant natural landscapes.