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Al-Ain

Property names are listed in the language in which they have been submitted by the State Party.

United Arab Emirates (Arab States)
Date of Submission: 05/02/2008
Criteria: (i)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)
Category: Mixed
Submitted by: Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage
State, Province or Region: Abu Dhabi Emirate
Coordinates: N24 14 E55 46
Ref.: 5266

Description

With a history stretching back to several millennia, the city of Al-Ain enjoys a rich and varied cultural heritage. Al-Ain, known as "the garden city" for its six oases, integrates significant archaeological sites, historic buildings, cultural and natural landscapes, ethnographic and historic collections as well as authentic Emirati cultural values and traditions practiced in Al-Ain for centuries.

The vast wealth of archaeological remains concentrated within Al-Ain's area and its immediate surroundings illustrates the extraordinary importance the area once had in the past. Archaeological investigations have proven that Al-Ain has been continuously inhabited since the Late Stone Age period. Today, the historic significance of the place is evidenced in its various archaeological sites and remains dating back to the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Hellenistic, pre-Islamic and Islamic eras.

The city's past trade exchange with the major cultures of the North (Mesopotamia and Persia) and the East (India and Pakistan) is strongly manifested in the various items of exchange which traveled across long and important trade routes. Archaeological evidence has proven that during the late fourth and early third millennia BC, Al-Ain area enjoyed a thriving trading relation with the Mesopotamian civilization, becoming a main supplier of copper to Mesopotamia during the second half of the third millennium BC. Witnesses to this important historic period are the Bronze Age cairn tombs at Jebel Hafit. The Jebel Hafit site, which contains over 500 graves, is known internationally as the "type-site" for the period designated as the "Hafit Period" or "Hafit Cultural Horizon", which dates to between 3200 and 2700 BC. The tombs and their contents revealed the strategic position of Al-Ain on the cross-roads of Mesopotamian trade. Overseas trade thrived in the 2nd half of the 3rd and early 2nd millennia BC and extended to cover the Indus Valley.

During the period that followed (i.e., Iron Age), the inhabitants of Al-Ain region introduced the falaj system, an ingenious underground water-supply system which allowed water to be transported from the mountains to the plains. The importance of the falaj system is unprecedented in Al-Ain and the region, in the sense that it led to the construction of permanent settlement sites. The various aflaj systems scattered throughout the area give us yet another evidence of the historic importance and remarkable development of agriculture and settlement in ancient Al-Ain. The importance of the falaj system, which dates back to 1000 B.C., is particularly relevant in Al-Ain, where the oldest falaj of the region was discovered (located within Hili Archaeological Park).

Several seasonal sites, representative of an ancient but surviving nomadic life, are also known on the periphery of the oasis city as well as in some remote areas.

The richness of the paleonthological remains found around Al-Ain area, some of which date back to the Cretaceous period, demonstrate the geological significance of the region.

Al-Aids numerous historic buildings (including forts, towers, mosques and private palaces/residences) are reminiscent of the pre-1960 period in a region where, due to the fast pace of development, vernacular architecture from the pre-oil era is quickly vanishing.

Al-Ain natural and cultural landscapes (which include red sand dunes, oases, date palm plantations, "wadis", deserts and mountain areas) add to the special character of the area. Of special relevance are the city's six oases, which sustained the development of Al-Ain throughout history (as far back as the 2nd millennium B.C.) and which constitute an indissoluble aspect of the landscape of the city. The harmonious relationship between Al-Ain and its oases has survived until the present day and today, the oases remain an active part of Al-Ain's daily life, well integrated into the urban fabric of the city. Al-Ain's oases are an important heritage asset; not only for their ecological value but mostly for the important cultural value they hold, which is linked to a way of life that has survived until today. The harvesting of the oases' dates trees and other crops continues to be maintained the way it has been for generations. There is also an initiative to revive the traditional craft industry related to palm weaving.

Jebel Hafit area constitutes another cultural landscape of exceptional value for its geological, archaeological, historical, palaeonthological, zoological and biological importance. The mountain is believed to have been formed some 25 million years ago; marine fossils found on the site though are far much older, dating between 135 and 70 million years ago. Studies indicate that Jebel Hafit is habitat to around 118 species of plant, 18 species of mammal (including the Arabian tahr, an endangered wild goat and some living troglobites, which might be unique to the ancient cave passages in Jebel Hafit), 140 species of bird (including the threatened Egyptian vulture) and over 10 different species of reptiles (ERWDA, 2003).

 In spite of the modernization of Al-Ain, its inhabitants remain largely loyal, respectful and proud of their social customs and traditions. The spirit of the place is alive in the daily customs and practices of its inhabitants. Socio- cultural values and traditions such as traditional wedding celebrations and dances, Bedouin hospitality, falconry practice and camel racing continue to be performed until today. Also, and despite the huge impact of large international shopping malls, traditional markets continue to be active and popular among the local community.

The significance of Al-Ain for World Heritage is particularly relevant for the variety, continuity, richness and uniqueness of the area's archaeological and historical remains, some of which have even given their name to a particular civilization; such is the case of the Hili and Hafit Culture. It is also relevant for the fragile balance Al-Ain maintains between the rapid rate of change and modern development affecting the whole country and its people's respect and pride in the preservation of social values and traditions.

 The importance of Al-Ain's archaeological findings and sites has been presented in numerous scientific assemblies and publications. The area proposed for inclusion covers the entire city of Al-Ain bordering east and south with neighboring Oman and north and west with the desert roads leading to Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively.

Justification for Outstanding Universal Value

Satements of authenticity and/or integrity

In spite of the fast pace of development affecting the UAE, the city of Al-Ain has managed to retain a high level of authenticity and integrity.

An important subset of Al-Aids archaeological sites and historic buildings preserves its integrity, original physical fabric and setting and since the establishment of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, in Oct. 2005, cultural properties are being systematically inventoried, conserved and maintained. Several historic houses and forts are currently undergoing conservation works. Whenever feasible, the buildings original uses are being revived (e.g. old traditional market in Qattarah), otherwise, new uses are created to integrate these buildings into the living structure of the city and thus guarantee their long term maintenance (e.g. A1 Jahili Fort, which is to house the city's information center as well as two exhibition spaces).

From an urban perspective, the city maintains its local character, mostly thanks to the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan A1 Nahyan, former President of the UAE, who issued a set of rules and regulations to ensure the city retained its integrity and charm (e.g., prohibition of high rise buildings).

On a social level, Al-Ain remains a place where old social customs and traditions are still highly respected and continue to be practiced the way they have been practiced for generations. Examples of these include wedding celebrations, Bedouin hospitality, falconry, camel racing, traditional crafts and traditional markets among others.

Comparison with other similar properties

The uniqueness of some of Al-Ain' archaeological sites such as the Jebel Hafit cairn tombs presumes there are no other similar remains dating from the same period to be compared to, apart from those found in neighboring Oman (which are actually a continuation of their Emirati counterpart, reminiscent of a time where no physical border existed between these two countries).

On the basis of its other individual cultural values, the city of Al-Ain can be compared to:

  • Oases areas that house important cultural values such as the Elche Oasis in Spain (declared a WHS in 2000);
  • Examples of ancient engineering feats like the aflaj found in Oman and the qanats in Iran;
  • World known funerary sites of similar magnitude to the Jebel Hafit Bronze Age tombs like Hili archaeological site;
  • Defensive fort and watchtower architecture like most of the forts and towers found across Oman (e.g., Nizwa fort, Sohar fort, fortlet and tower at Rusayl, Fanja fort, Bidbid fort, etc.) and other examples in the Arabian Gulf such as the fort at Tabuk , Qasr al-Masmak and Qasr Ibrahim, al-Hufuf, all of them located in Saudi Arabia;
  • Places where ancient traditions and other cultural manifestations of intangible heritage have survived the test of time and remain highly respected and practiced among local communities such as the practice of falconry in Mongolia, the high regard for the craft industry in north Africa (e.g. Egypt and Morocco) or the practice of authentic folkloric displays like those still proudly performed in the Levant (e.g., dabke dance and derbish tournant).