Wadi Wurayah Becomes UAE's First UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site

Wadi Wurayah National Park in Fujairah has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List following a decision by the World Heritage Committee at its 48th session in Busan, South Korea, becoming the UAE’s first site recognised for its Outstanding Universal Natural Value and the country’s third World Heritage site overall.

Spanning 225 square kilometres, the park features a permanent freshwater ecosystem in an otherwise arid landscape, with more than 300 springs and 60 streams sustained by a unique hydrogeological structure that supports year-round watercourses. Its ophiolite rocks - exposed fragments of ancient oceanic crust formed 90 million years ago - are regarded by geologists as among the world’s best preserved.

The recognition follows two decades of conservation efforts that began with baseline ecological surveys in 2006. Those studies initially documented 860 species and ultimately led to the area's designation as the UAE's first mountain protected area in 2009. Continued research has since increased the recorded biodiversity to 1,099 species, highlighting the park's ecological significance.

Among the species found within the reserve are the endangered Arabian tahr, for which Wadi Wurayah is one of only three remaining habitats, as well as the critically endangered Arabian caracal, rediscovered in the park in 2025 after years without confirmed sightings. Other rare wildlife includes Blanford's fox and a dragonfly species once believed to be extinct.

The UNESCO inscription marks a new chapter for the reserve, bringing international recognition while also committing the UAE to ongoing conservation, research and regular reporting to ensure the site's long-term protection.