UAE Unveils National Plan To Register Cultural Heritage On UNESCO Lists To Boost Cultural Tourism And Soft Power

The UAE Cabinet has approved the ‘National Plan for Registration of Cultural Heritage Elements on UNESCO Lists (2026-2036)’, setting a long-term roadmap to protect and promote Emirati heritage. The plan links cultural assets with wider economic goals, aiming to strengthen the UAE’s global cultural standing and soft power while supporting tourism growth and broader national development priorities.

Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, said the plan reflects the leadership’s approach to safeguarding heritage and using it as a driver for growth. The strategy positions cultural heritage as a resource for both cultural influence and economic activity, reinforcing the UAE’s image in international forums and supporting broader policy objectives.

Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi stated, "Inscribing cultural heritage elements on UNESCO lists is fundamental to enhancing the nation’s competitiveness in international cultural and tourism indices. It also strengthens the integration of national efforts to safeguard heritage, enhances its sustainability, and reinforces its value at both regional and international levels." The statement links UNESCO recognition directly with tourism and competitiveness.

The Minister of Culture noted that the National Plan works in parallel with the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031. That strategy treats cultural tourism as a main pillar of economic diversification. It also aims to increase the tourism sector’s contribution to national GDP to AED450 billion by 2031, highlighting the economic dimension of cultural registration efforts.

The UAE already holds a leading regional position in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, with 21 elements registered. In addition, three national personalities are recognised under UNESCO’s anniversaries programme. These achievements give the National Plan a strong base, from which it seeks to expand the range and profile of listed heritage.

Two heritage sites in the UAE are currently on the UNESCO World Heritage List: The Cultural Sites of Al Ain, inscribed in 2011, and the Al Faya site in Sharjah, added in 2025. Al Faya documents one of the longest continuous records of human presence in desert environments, extending back more than 200,000 years, and is seen as having exceptional global scientific and cultural value.

By 2036, the National Plan aims to raise the number of World Heritage sites in the UAE from two to six. The plan also targets an increase in Intangible Cultural Heritage elements from 21 to 44, while preserving the UAE’s leading status in the Arab region. It further seeks at least four inscriptions in the Memory of the World Register and a total of 12 recognised national personalities and historical events.

The framework for the National Plan has been developed by the Ministry of Culture with input from local cultural authorities, other government entities and civil society experts. It sets clear priorities and criteria for selecting heritage elements for nomination. The plan focuses on improving the readiness of sites and practices for UNESCO evaluation, and aligns national processes with international technical standards and methodologies.

The Plan also schedules intensive workshops with partners across the UAE to agree on priority sites and elements. These workshops will apply transparent selection criteria and help build skills in documentation and conservation. The programme is designed to support Sustainable Development Goals, honour international commitments and strengthen regional and global cooperation, including through joint transnational nominations with other countries.

UNESCO maintains several key registers that are relevant to the National Plan. The World Heritage List includes more than 1,200 cultural and natural sites judged to hold outstanding universal value. The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity contains 840 elements, while the Memory of the World Register covers documentary heritage and another programme recognises anniversaries of important events and eminent personalities.

The approval of the National Plan for Registration of Cultural Heritage Elements on UNESCO Lists (2026-2036) signals a structured, long-term approach to heritage within the UAE. By linking registration goals with tourism, economic diversification, skills development and international cooperation, the plan is intended to preserve cultural assets while reinforcing the country’s role in regional and global cultural policy.

With inputs from WAM