Cultural
Sites culturels d’Al Aïn (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud et les oasis)
Émirats arabes unis
This cultural site in the United Arab Emirates comprises four interconnected archaeological and natural components located in the Al Aïn region. The ensemble includes the Hafit and Hili archaeological areas, which contain evidence of Bronze Age settlement and funerary practices, along with the Bidaa Bint Saud site and the extensive oasis systems that have sustained human habitation for millennia. The oases represent a significant example of traditional irrigation and agricultural practices, while the archaeological remains document patterns of human settlement and cultural exchange in the Arabian Peninsula. The landscape is characterized by the contrast between the arid desert environment and the verdant palm groves maintained through historical water management systems. Together, these elements illustrate the relationship between human communities and their desert environment across different historical periods, from prehistory through to more recent times.
