Flower that blooms in the desert
Just a 90-minute drive east from the steel-and-glass skylines of Abu Dhabi, the desert begins to shift. The land rises gently, palms thicken, and the Jebel Hafeet mountains rise like ancient sentinels along the Omani border. Here lies Al Ain: sun-washed, storied, and stunning. This is not the Middle East of glitz and glass towers, of air-conditioned malls and supercar showrooms. It is a place where the past survives; not behind museum glass, but woven into the fabric of daily life.
Designated the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in the United Arab Emirates, Al Ain offers a window into 5,000 years of continuous human habitation. 'Al Ain means 'The Spring,'' says local guide Rabia Siddiqui as we walk beneath a lattice of date palms. 'The ready availability of water here encouraged nomadic hunters to settle and build a life.'
The city, long a resting point on the caravan route to Oman is now a constellation of more than a dozen heritage sites: restored forts and homes, peaceful parks, living oases, and museums. Perhaps most striking are the hundreds of date farms that still nourish the land using the irrigation technique qanat, which draws water from hand-dug wells at higher elevations, channeling it through underground tunnels to fields below. 'These closed systems lose less to evaporation than open-air canals. Perfect for the desert,' Rabia says.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Salkhan Fossils Park makes it to UNESCO's tentative list of World Heritage Sites
Set amidst idyllic surroundings, Salkhan Fossils Park in Sonbhadra—one of the oldest fossil sites in the world—has been included in UNESCO's tentative list of World Heritage Sites. Detailed information about the park is now made available on the official UNESCO website. This milestone is expected to significantly boost Uttar Pradesh's global tourism profile. Located near Salkhan village, about 15 km from Robertsganj in Sonbhadra, the park has been the focus of dedicated efforts by the tourism department over the past year. (HT ) Following the chief minister's directives, the Uttar Pradesh eco-tourism development board is preparing a comprehensive dossier to support the park's nomination for UNESCO's permanent World Heritage status, said officials. The dossier will soon be submitted to the government of India and officials are optimistic that the park could attain full World Heritage status within the next two years. Tourism director Prakhar Mishra explained that inclusion in the tentative list is the first step in the UNESCO World Heritage nomination process. This is followed by the submission of a detailed dossier and an on-site evaluation by a UNESCO team—typically a year-long process. Mishra confirmed that the dossier for Salkhan Fossils Park is currently being finalised and will soon be forwarded to UNESCO via the central government. 'This recognition will not only bring international acclaim to Uttar Pradesh but also position the state as a major destination for eco-tourism and scientific research,' he said. Principal secretary of tourism, Mukesh Meshram, highlighted that CM Yogi Adityanath has consistently undertaken key initiatives to promote tourism, especially eco-tourism, across the state. One such recent initiative includes the introduction of Vistadome coaches on tourist trains, connecting Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and Dudhwa Tiger Reserve with scenic rail routes. Located near Salkhan village, about 15 km from Robertsganj in Sonbhadra, the park has been the focus of dedicated efforts by the tourism department over the past year. A key development in this journey was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 26, 2024, between the UP eco-tourism development board and the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow. The institute conducted detailed scientific studies of fossil-bearing rocks in the park. These studies revealed the presence of 1.4 billion-year-old stromatolites and algae fossils—some of the earliest known evidence of life on Earth. This scientific foundation played a critical role in the park's nomination to UNESCO.
India.com
9 hours ago
- India.com
UP's Salkhan Fossils Park Joins UNESCO's Tentative World Heritage List
In a significant achievement for Uttar Pradesh, Salkhan Fossils Park -- one of the world's oldest fossil sites secured a place in Unesco's tentative list of World Heritage Sites on Sunday. This development is expected to propel Uttar Pradesh's tourism to new heights on the international stage. The park is set to attain full World Heritage status within the next two years. Mukesh Meshram, Principal Secretary of the Tourism Department, stated that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has consistently undertaken key initiatives to strengthen tourism in the state, with a particular focus on eco-tourism. He said that the Board achieved a major accomplishment days ago, by securing a place for Salkhan Fossils Park -- located near Salkhan village, approximately 15 km from Robertsganj in Sonbhadra -- on UNESCO's Tentative List. The Tourism Department had been working towards this goal for the past year. A pivotal step in the process was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Uttar Pradesh Eco-Tourism Development Board and the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow. The institute conducted scientific studies of the park's fossil-bearing rocks, which revealed 1.4 billion-year-old stromatolites and algae fossils -- considered some of the earliest evidence of life on Earth. These findings formed the scientific foundation for the park's nomination to UNESCO. This recognition not only highlights the geological significance of Salkhan Fossils Park but also places Uttar Pradesh prominently on the global eco-tourism map. Tourism Director Prakhar Mishra explained that the process of including any site in the UNESCO World Heritage List begins with its entry into the Tentative List. Following this, a comprehensive dossier is prepared, which forms the basis for the nomination to the permanent list. This entire process typically takes about a year and includes an on-site evaluation by a UNESCO team. He informed that the dossier for Salkhan Fossils Park in Sonbhadra is currently being prepared and will soon be submitted to the government of India for forwarding to the Unesco. He expressed optimism that the park could be officially inscribed on the permanent World Heritage List within the next two years. Such recognition would not only bring international acclaim to Uttar Pradesh but also significantly enhance its global tourism profile. Amid rising national and international interest in the Earth's ancient natural heritage, Salkhan Fossils Park -- also known as Sonbhadra Fossils Park -- is emerging as a key site of global importance. Situated near Salkhan village, about 15 km from Robertsganj in Sonbhadra district, the park lies in a picturesque region between the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary and the Vindhya mountain range. Spread across 25 hectares, the park is home to exceptionally well-preserved stromatolites -- layered, microbial rock formations embedded in ancient sandstone and dating back roughly 1.4 billion years. These fossils represent some of the earliest known life forms and provide invaluable insights into the planet's biological and geological history.
Hans India
11 hours ago
- Hans India
UP's Salkhan Fossils Park joins Unesco's tentative World Heritage List
In a significant achievement for Uttar Pradesh, Salkhan Fossils Park -- one of the world's oldest fossil sites secured a place in Unesco's tentative list of World Heritage Sites on Sunday. This development is expected to propel Uttar Pradesh's tourism to new heights on the international stage. The park is set to attain full World Heritage status within the next two years. Mukesh Meshram, Principal Secretary of Tourism Department stated that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has consistently undertaken key initiatives to strengthen tourism in the state, with a particular focus on eco-tourism. He said that the Board achieved major accomplishment days ago, by securing a place for Salkhan Fossils Park -- located near Salkhan village, approximately 15 km from Robertsganj in Sonbhadra -- on UNESCO's Tentative List. The Tourism Department had been working towards this goal for the past year. A pivotal step in the process was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Uttar Pradesh Eco-Tourism Development Board and the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow. The institute conducted scientific studies of the park's fossil-bearing rocks, which revealed 1.4 billion-year-old stromatolites and algae fossils -- considered some of the earliest evidence of life on Earth. These findings formed the scientific foundation for the park's nomination to UNESCO. This recognition not only highlights the geological significance of Salkhan Fossils Park but also places Uttar Pradesh prominently on the global eco-tourism map. Tourism Director Prakhar Mishra explained that the process of including any site in the UNESCO World Heritage List begins with its entry into the Tentative List. Following this, a comprehensive dossier is prepared, which forms the basis for the nomination to the permanent list. This entire process typically takes about a year and includes an on-site evaluation by a UNESCO team. He informed that the dossier for Salkhan Fossils Park in Sonbhadra is currently being prepared and will soon be submitted to the government of India for forwarding to the Unesco. He expressed optimism that the park could be officially inscribed on the permanent World Heritage List within the next two years. Such recognition would not only bring international acclaim to Uttar Pradesh but also significantly enhance its global tourism profile. Amid rising national and international interest in the Earth's ancient natural heritage, Salkhan Fossils Park -- also known as Sonbhadra Fossils Park -- is emerging as a key site of global importance. Situated near Salkhan village, about 15 km from Robertsganj in Sonbhadra district, the park lies in a picturesque region between the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary and the Vindhya mountain range. Spread across 25 hectares, the park is home to exceptionally well-preserved stromatolites -- layered, microbial rock formations embedded in ancient sandstone and dating back roughly 1.4 billion years. These fossils represent some of the earliest known life forms and provide invaluable insights into the planet's biological and geological history.
