Baghdad: The United Arab Emirates has announced the inclusion of Wadi Wurayah Nature Reserve, located in Fujairah, on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This marks the first Emirati site to be inscribed on the list due to its exceptional natural value and becomes the third Emirati site to receive such a designation.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the UAE government affirmed that this inscription reflects the country’s commitment to protecting natural heritage, preserving biodiversity, and establishing sustainability principles for future generations. The decision was made during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, held from July 19 to 29.

Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah and Ambassador for Wadi Wurayah to UNESCO, highlighted the reserve’s unique environmental and geological characteristics, along with its scientific, environmental, and cultural value. Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Culture, emphasized Wadi Wurayah’s role as a natural and scientific reference point that enriches human knowledge.

The Wadi Wurayah National Reserve spans 220 square kilometers and is managed by the Environment Agency – Fujairah. Established in 2009 under Law No. 2 of 2009 by Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, the area was designated a Ramsar site in 2010 and registered under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Reserve in 2018. This highlights its significance and the local community’s role in environmental protection and wildlife conservation.

The reserve is home to over 860 species, including 208 plant species, with some, like Blanford’s fox, the wild orchid, and Gordon’s wildcat, being rare. Others were discovered and recorded for the first time globally within the reserve’s bounds.