Leading global universities and research institutions are competing for funding under the Faya Research Grant Programme, as proposals move into the scientific evaluation stage following the inscription of Sharjah’s Faya Palaeolandscape on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The programme features two main tracks: a long-term research grant supporting three-year scientific projects focused on in-depth fieldwork, analysis and data generation; and six one-year short-term research grants funding studies aimed at addressing specific research questions, testing innovative methodologies and contributing specialised insights within the scientific framework of the Faya World Heritage Site.
The evaluation process is overseen by Faya’s Scientific Committee, which is currently examining submissions from internationally recognised academic and research institutions across both tracks.
Managed by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority under the supervision of the Sharjah Government, the Dh2 million initiative will run from 2026 to 2028. It aims to strengthen Faya’s position as a global scientific reference point for the study of early human history and environmental change following its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Ancient Water Systems
Submissions for the long-term track include participation from institutions such as the University of Oxford, University of Leeds, University of Sharjah, Zayed University, Canadian University Dubai, Jordanian University, and German Jordanian University. Their proposals focus on multi-year in-depth research areas analysing ancient cultural landscapes, palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, and studying the ancient water systems, climate monitoring, and heritage conservation and management, alongside advanced applications in computational modelling, artificial intelligence, high-resolution 3D digital modelling and virtual reality.
Heritage Conservation
The short-term grant track has attracted a diverse group of international institutions, including Friedrich Schiller University, American University in Sharjah, University of Sharjah, Université de Montréal, Istanbul Technical University, Ain Shams University, University of South Alabama, Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence in Cyprus, Al Farabi Kazakh National University, National University of Distance Education in Spain, and the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Research proposals under this track demonstrate a strong interdisciplinary scope, covering areas such as palaeoecology, geological frameworks, human evolution and mobility, palaeogenomics, and human–landscape interaction. Additional areas of focus include heritage conservation and management, alongside advanced digital applications such as remote sensing, satellite imagery, GIS-based reconstruction, 3D scanning, and virtual reality.
They also included proposals to use archaeoacoustic methods to complement the documentation of the prehistoric sites at Faya, led by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority over the past 30 years in collaboration with several interdisciplinary international teams. They also incorporate advanced digital applications including remote sensing, satellite imaging, GIS-based reconstruction, 3D scanning and virtual reality.
High-Impact Studies
Issa Yousef, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, said the volume and scientific quality of submissions reflect Faya’s growing status as a priority site for advanced archaeological research. He remarked that the geographic and institutional diversity of submissions highlights Faya’s growing international relevance as a research hub. Yousef noted that the programme had attracted high-impact studies that would deepen understanding of the site within the broader context of global human history.
He said the initiative aligns with the vision of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the Ambassador of the Faya World Heritage Site, to establish it as a sustainable research platform in line with international heritage management standards, while strengthening scientific knowledge and supporting the site’s long-term preservation and cultural significance.
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