10 historical milestones bear witness to the contributions of the UAE in preserving the treasures of world heritage, after it came close to the final fall of the World Heritage Lists. The list of the most prominent landmarks brought back by the Emirati support to life includes: the Dome of the Rock, the Omar Bin Al-Khattab Mosque, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Great Nuri Mosque, its minarets Al-Hadba, the pure churches and the clock in the Iraqi city of Mosul, in addition to the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Palace Theater - the former imperial Fontainebleau Palace, and the Art Museum Islami in Egypt, the Macmillan Historical Library in Nairobi, and the Peace Inn in the Bahraini city of Muharraq, in addition to many other landmarks and sites.

The Emirates reflected its view of these historical monuments as a global human heritage, continuing this approach of tolerance and human coexistence, as it did not stop at the reference of these sites and their religious affiliation, but its great human influence. The UAE has played a leading role in the field of safeguarding world heritage, since its ratification of accession to the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage approved by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1972.

Practical steps

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, stressed that “the UAE’s interest in preserving the human heritage and protecting its historical treasures is one of the most important practical steps the state is taking to promote a culture of tolerance and spreading the message of peaceful coexistence in the world.” He added that «the leadership of the UAE believes in the firm belief in the values ​​of moderation and coexistence between all religions and cultures, and the rejection of factors of division and intolerance among peoples, and from this standpoint the UAE was keen to provide various forms of material and moral support in order to protect and restore the historical religious monuments in a number of countries of the world, Especially those whose influence throughout time carried a message of moderation and convergence between peoples of different divine religions. ”

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan continued, “The UAE does not distinguish in its support for projects to revive heritage and historical monuments between one religion and another, based on that from an integrated system of traditions and values ​​of tolerance and moderation established in its local community, which contributed to achieving communication and interaction between all residents The state in all their religions, traditions and culture ».

Active presence

For her part, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi said that the UAE’s efforts stem from its thought based on promoting the concept of human coexistence and preserving the most prominent world heritage sites, and we are proud of the association of the name of the Emirates with the most important features of the world and its historical treasures.

She added that «the successive events that the world witnessed recently, generated a feeling of sorrow for the situation that reached many prominent historical monuments», stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation to protect and preserve the cultural and historical heritage.

She pointed out that the Emirates extends a hand of care and attention to historical monuments and treasures around the world, based on its firm approach to tolerance and human coexistence, as it has never stood at the reference of those sites and their religious affiliation, but its great human impact.

Nahyan bin Mubarak:

"The UAE does not distinguish in its support for projects to revive heritage monuments between one religion and another."

Noura Al-Kaabi:

“The UAE’s efforts stem from its ideology based on promoting the concept of human coexistence.”

Peace was revealed

In October 2019, the UAE and the Sheikh Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Culture Center in Bahrain inaugurated the “Peace Inn” in Muharraq, one of the projects to restore heritage buildings supported by the Emirates as part of a joint cultural project.

Islamic art museum

In 2014, an Emirati figure sponsored the restoration and maintenance expenses of the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, after the damage caused to him as a result of a terrorist act. The landmark is the largest Islamic museum in the world, with hundreds of rare manuscripts and over 100,000 artifacts.

Macmillan Library

Sharjah undertook the restoration and renovation of the Macmillan Historical Library, one of the most famous libraries in Africa, located in the heart of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Upon completion of the restoration, the library will become a destination for reading, exchanging knowledge and a modern center for cultural activities and activities.

Dome of the Rock

The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, "may God rest his soul," ensured the restoration of the roof of the Dome of the Rock Mosque at the Noble Sanctuary at his own expense, after it was damaged by the earthquake that struck Jerusalem in 2004, as well as the aging of the marble dome ceiling.

Church of the Nativity

Not far from the dome. In 2002, the late Sheikh Zayed sponsored the costs of restoring the Church of the Nativity, in coordination with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), given that the church is an important human impact.

Al-Khattab Mosque

The late Sheikh Zayed also undertook the restoration of the Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque, adjacent to the Church of the Nativity, which was also damaged. The mosque is located opposite the Church of the Nativity from the south, and it is said that it was erected at the place where Umar ibn al-Khattab prayed, when he visited the city of Bethlehem in 637 AD.

Al-Nuri Mosque

In April 2018, the UAE launched a project to rebuild and restore the Great Mosque of Al-Nuri and its minaret al-Hadba in the Iraqi city of Mosul, in a five-year project that is the largest of its kind in Iraq, at a cost of 50 million and 400 dollars.

"Pure" and "the hour"

The support of the Emirates contributes to building and restoring the pure and hourly churches by restoring the cultural face of the city of Mosul, and contributes to building the community fabric and the return of the displaced, especially Christians, to their homes through the restoration of historical monuments and places of worship.

Khalifa Palace

The Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Theater, or the Fontainebleau Imperial Palace theater in the French capital Paris, stands as another testament to the Emirati role in preserving the world heritage, as it reopened in June 2019 after the end of the extensive restoration and renovation work.