The UAE’s first mountain nature reserve, Fujairah’s Wadi Wurayah National Park, has been added to the Unesco World Heritage Site tentative list, state news agency Wam reported on Thursday.
Wadi Wurayah is an area of huge natural significance and is home to at least 860 different species of plants and animals, including the caracal, Arabian tahr, Blanford’s fox and the UAE’s only native orchid.
The park, which spans 220 square kilometres and was first declared a nature reserve in 2009, is also famous for its scenic waterfall, streams and pools set amid the Hajar Mountains.
It has also been recognised since 2010 as an important wetland under the Ramsar Convention.
“I am delighted that the first steps have now been taken for recognition of Wadi Wurayah as a World Heritage Site,” said Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah.
"Under directives of HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, the Fujairah Government has given all types of support to the Wadi Wurayah National Park.
“With the only permanent waterfall in the UAE and with a population of endangered plants and animals, it is a unique part of the country’s biodiversity and a key element of our environmental protection programme,” he said.
"On this occasion I am also pleased to announce the launch of the Wadi Wurayah new official identity and brand. Aesthetically resonating with the ancient and rich heritage of the Wadi, this will serve the vision of becoming an iconic world heritage site as well as its newly developed purpose to educate people about the unique characteristics of the wadi and its conservation," he said.
The addition of the park brings the number of UAE sites on the tentative list to 13. Others include Ras Al Khaimah's Al Jazirah Al Hamra pearling village and the Shimal tombs.
The only Unesco World Heritage Sites in the UAE are in Abu Dhabi at Al Ain.
Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, said the announcement was testament to the efforts of the UAE to preserve its heritage.
“I commend the efforts of the Fujairah Environment Authority and other Fujairah institutions in working to preserve and protect Wadi Wurayah, a key part of the country’s biodiversity,” said Ms Al Kaabi.
A detailed explanation of the park’s environment and biodiversity will now be prepared for evaluation by Unesco's scientific teams.
Ten things to do in Fujairah - in pictures:
West Indies v India - Third ODI
India 251-4 (50 overs)
Dhoni (78*), Rahane (72), Jadhav (40)
Cummins (2-56), Bishoo (1-38)
West Indies 158 (38.1 overs)
Mohammed (40), Powell (30), Hope (24)
Ashwin (3-28), Yadav (3-41), Pandya (2-32)
India won by 93 runs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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The BIO
Favourite piece of music: Verdi’s Requiem. It’s awe-inspiring.
Biggest inspiration: My father, as I grew up in a house where music was constantly played on a wind-up gramophone. I had amazing music teachers in primary and secondary school who inspired me to take my music further. They encouraged me to take up music as a profession and I follow in their footsteps, encouraging others to do the same.
Favourite book: Ian McEwan’s Atonement – the ending alone knocked me for six.
Favourite holiday destination: Italy - music and opera is so much part of the life there. I love it.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
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Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
