10 February. The Director-General of ICCROM, Mounir Bouchenaki, was received last month by H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Sharjah, in order to consolidate support for the ATHAR Programme and its efforts in the Arab region. The Director-General, together with Zaki Aslan, ATHAR Programme Manager, reviewed ATHAR's achievements and the continued support of Sharjah and the UAE in the programme's activities in its third phase. Also discussed was the management plan for the Jabal Faya, Buhais an Meliha cultural landscape, and World Heritage issues.

In efforts to support World Heritage nominations in the UAE, the ATHAR Programme in partnership with the National Council of Tourism and Antiquities (NCTA), UAE, conducted a workshop last week to fortify the country's Tentative List. Representatives from the seven Emirates attended this meeting, identifying sites with potential Outstanding Universal Value. The Director-General of NCTA, Mr Mohammad Khamis bin Hareb Al-Muhairi, inaugurated the event. Over the course of the workshop, Zaki Aslan introduced participants to the nomination procedures, World Heritage Criteria, and other relevant processes.

Although the United Arab Emirates currently has no sites on the World Heritage List, Al Ain, a historic oasis settlement in Abu Dhabi has been included on the Tentative List and recently nominated for consideration by the World Heritage Committee.

updated on: 10 February, 2011