Located in the central region of Sharjah, Mleiha Archaeological Center is the epitome of man’s history in the GCC. It is here where you will find cradles of rich antiquity on human civilization and cultural legacy, dating back about 130,000 years. If you are planning a visit to the UAE, this is one place you should include in your itinerary. And if you are already a resident, make sure you plan a visit. You will learn a lot of interesting facts about the history of the region, and this particular history lesson is bound to be fun and educational for you and yours, including the little ones.

The Mleiha Archaeological Center was once home to the migration of mankind from Africa, to the GCC, Europe, and Asia. Most of those who settled in the region found a home in Mleiha. This is where through its mountains they built caves, through its hills they built farms and through its meadows they built homes and palaces.

As time passed by, with the dynamic environment and climate change, Mleiha managed to preserve these historic landmarks. Fossil rocks and mountains bear the testament of almost five key historic ages which passed through the area thousands of years ago.

Mleiha Archaeological Center – A Journey Through Time

The Mleiha Archaeological Center is inspired by the area’s historical significance. It is architecturally conceptualized and built to represent itself as the true gateway to one of the most ancient journeys of the Sharjah emirate.

The symbolic structure of the center reflects Mleiha’s natural landscapes, which were resilient enough to preserve its history. This has enabled Shurooq (an independent government organization that facilitates partnerships and connects investors with relevant opportunities) to build a unique visitor center in harmony and synchronization with those landscapes.

According to Mahmoud Rashid Deemas – Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism Project Manager, Mleiha Archaeological Center is the first structure and the most iconic landmark since the development phase of the Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism project.

Timeless Landscapes

“Through this visitor center, we wanted to send an educational and inspirational message to all visitors before they even walk inside. This is our commitment to building unique structures that are a part of Mleiha’s remarkable nature and wonderful landscapes,” he says referring to the timeless landscapes.

The Mleiha Archaeological Center serves as a uniquely designed visitor center. This allows visitors to explore and understand Mleiha’s history, as well as get close and personal with several archaeological discoveries which were excavated many years ago. The center also has a Bistro cafe where visitors can indulge along with panoramic views of the fossil rocks and mountains of Mleiha.

Mleiha’s Architecture

The creativity behind the architectural linings, curves and shape of the center pay homage to the Bronze Age. This is one the five ages Mleiha went through since man first migrated there.

The Umm Al Nar Tomb, which is found in the center of the construction and accessible to all visitors, serves as a key historic monument. In addition, the center provides three unique experiences which surround this tomb. These include the gentle descent of the tomb, the promenade of the roof accessing an overview look of the tomb, and the exhibition area in the center which itself tells the story of the tomb as well as Mleiha.

The Story Behind Mleiha Archaeological Center

Deemas explains that going through Mleiha Archaeological Center is just like reading a book. “You go through different sequences until you fully understand and appreciate the story’s authenticity. This is how we want to share the story of Mleiha with visitors.”

“We want to take them from the giant look of the tomb onto the rich discoveries made to understand what Mleiha really was. It doesn’t take long for visitors to feel the strong connection between the design and its 130,000-year-old story,” says he adding that it is like embarking on a truly authentic experience of Emirati traditions, values and history.

The innovation process was inspired by the tiniest details of the area’s history. These included the use of copper materials on the center’s walls. And they echo the memories and evidence of when ancient copper workshops existed in the area thousands of years ago.

Building a Part of History

The Palms and Ghaf trees bring the environmental conditions in which the Umm Al Nar Tomb existed through to when it was first built. The copper roof, which cascades down in jagged forms, mirrors the sharp edges of a desert rose. “All these details allowed us to inventively look beyond just building something on top of a piece of land. In other words, it allowed us to build something that was rather a part of a much bigger, larger, and the greater world.”