Now the secret is out – Wadi Wurayah joins UNESCO World Heritage list, becoming the UAE’s first natural World Heritage Site. Wadi Wurayah is one of the best attractions in Fujairah and covers a 220 sq km area. This mountain sanctuary is flowing with natural springs, cool rock pools, and even a waterfall that never dries up, even during the summer. More than 1,000 species are found here, such as the Arabian tahr, the elusive caracal, the shy Blanford’s fox, and the country’s only native orchid. The rocks themselves are a tale of the past too, some of the best-preserved ophiolite formations in the world providing a rare opportunity to see the deep tectonic history of Earth.
How to Get There
Located in the Hajar Mountains, approximately 42 km north of Fujairah city and approximately 2 hours’ drive from Dubai, Wadi Wurayah is a beautiful place to visit. The road from Dubai or Sharjah heads east along Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (via the mountains or the E99 coastal road) to either Sheikh Khalifa Highway or Khor Fakkan.
The road from Fujairah city goes to Bidiyah on the E89, following local signage that gives directions to the heritage. There are also taxis from the surrounding towns to avoid the hassle of driving.
The UAE’s Growing Heritage List
Since Wadi Wurayah joins UNESCO World Heritage list, it has become part of the two other treasures of the UAE recognized by the UN as World Heritage: the Cultural Sites of Al Ain, with ancient oases added in 2011, and Sharjah’s Faya Palaeolandscape, added in 2025 for its 210,000 years of human history.
Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas)
This is the best UNESCO World Heritage site in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It has ancient Bronze Age tombs, the Hili Archaeological Park and the dense Al Ain Oasis of more than 147,000 date palms and a traditional falaj irrigation system still in use today. It’s about a 1.5-hour drive from Fujairah.
Bidaa Bint Saud: An ancient caravan located in the centre north of Al Ain, which has a unique Iron Age structure and old irrigation channels and Bronze Age tombs almost 5000 years old. It’s located by following local signs on the E66 road to Al Ain, which is approximately a 1.5- 2-hour drive from Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Hili Archaeological Park: This park is only 10 km away from Al Ain city, and contains the country’s oldest known remains of a farming village, ancient tombs, and the famous Hili Grand Tomb. Easy access from Al Ain by car or the local bus Line 380 from Al Ain’s central bus station.
Jebel Hafeet: A mountain with tombs located at its foot back 5,000 years and a scenic drive up its top, perfect for hiking, camping or cycling. From Al Ain, head south on E95 to Green Mubazzarah and head up the mountain road.
Al Ain Oasis: A green oasis, offering shade and a haven in the heart of the city, with more than 147,000 date palms and the traditional falaj irrigation system. Located in the heart of Al Ain, a few minutes from the city centre.
Faya Palaeolandscape, Sharjah
In 2025, Faya Palaeolandscape was added to the list and is located near Jebel Faya in the central part of Sharjah, where one of the earliest continuous records of human life in a desert environment can be found, back more than 210,000 years. Faya is not like most desert locations that were previously believed to be only migration routes, but it’s a location that reveals real signs of prolonged human habitation. It takes about 1 hours drive from Fujairah, near the Mleiha Archaeological Centre.
📍Recommended: UNESCO World Heritage Sites In Abu Dhabi
1 AED