Mleiha Archaeological Centre

{{Coord|25|7|34.95|N|55|51|27.17|E|region:AE_type:landmark_dim:20|display=title}}

{{Coord|25|7|34.95|N|55|51|27.17|E|region:AE_type:landmark_dim:20|display=title}}

[[File:Mleiha Umm an-Nar Tomb.jpg|thumb|Mleiha Bronze Age Umm Al Nar tomb near the Mleiha Archaeological Centre, built around 2,300 BCE and used until 2,100 BCE.|alt=]]

[[File:Mleiha Umm an-Nar Tomb.jpg|thumb|Mleiha Bronze Age Umm Al Nar tomb near the Mleiha Archaeological Centre, built around 2,300 BCE and used until 2,100 BCE.|alt=]]

'''Mleiha Archaeological Centre''' is a visitor centre and exhibition based around the history and archaeology of the areas surrounding the village of [[Mileiha]] in the [[Emirate of Sharjah]], the [[United Arab Emirates]]. Built around a preserved [[Umm al-Nar Culture|Umm Al Nar]] era tomb,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sharjahupdate.com/2016/01/mleiha-archaeological-and-eco-tourism-project-opened/|title=First phase of Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism Project opened|website=Sharjah Update|access-date=2016-04-03|date=2016-01-27}}</ref> the centre details the excavations and discoveries made over the past 40 years at Mleiha and surrounding areas (including [[Al Thuqeibah]], [[Jebel Faya]], [[Al Madam]] and [[Jebel Al-Buhais]]), particularly the important Faya North East find, which provides evidence that '[[Recent African origin of modern humans|anatomically modern humans]]' were in the Mleiha area between 130,000 and 120,000 years ago.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenational.ae/uae/tourism/dh250m-for-mleiha-archaeological-project|title=Dh250m for Mleiha archaeological project |website=The National|date=24 January 2016 |access-date=2016-04-03}}</ref> These finds point to the spread of humanity from [[Africa]] across the [[Red Sea]] to the [[Persian Gulf]] region, and onward to populate the world through [[Iran]], [[India]], [[Europe]] and [[Asia]].

'''Mleiha Archaeological Centre''' is a visitor centre and exhibition based around the history and archaeology of the areas surrounding the village of [[Mileiha]] in the [[Emirate of Sharjah]], in the [[United Arab Emirates]].

It sits at the centre of the Paleolandscape of Faya,<ref name=":72">{{Cite book |last=McNabb |first=Alexander |title=Children of the Seven Sands |publisher=Motivate Media Group |year=2025 |isbn=9781860635120 |location=Dubai |pages=32}}</ref> designated a [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Site]] in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 11, 2025 |title=UNESCO recognises Sharjah’s Faya as only Arab heritage site of 2025 |url=https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2025/07/11/unesco-recognises-sharjahs-faya-as-only-arab-heritage-site-of-2025 |work=G;ulf Today}}</ref>

Built around a preserved [[Umm al-Nar Culture|Umm Al Nar]] era tomb,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sharjahupdate.com/2016/01/mleiha-archaeological-and-eco-tourism-project-opened/|title=First phase of Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism Project opened|website=Sharjah Update|access-date=2016-04-03|date=2016-01-27}}</ref> the centre details the excavations and discoveries made over the past 40 years at Mleiha and surrounding areas (including [[Al Thuqeibah]], [[Jebel Faya]], [[Al Madam]] and [[Jebel Al-Buhais]]), particularly the important Faya North East find, which provides evidence that '[[Recent African origin of modern humans|anatomically modern humans]]' were in the Mleiha area between 130,000 and 120,000 years ago.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenational.ae/uae/tourism/dh250m-for-mleiha-archaeological-project|title=Dh250m for Mleiha archaeological project |website=The National|date=24 January 2016 |access-date=2016-04-03}}</ref> These finds point to the spread of humanity from [[Africa]] across the [[Red Sea]] to the [[Persian Gulf]] region, and onward to populate the world through [[Iran]], [[India]], [[Europe]] and [[Asia]].

[[File:Fossil Rock, UAE.jpg|thumb|[[Fossil Rock]], or [[Jebel Mleiha]], overlooks the Mleiha Archaeological Centre, which offers tours to the popular destination.]]

[[File:Fossil Rock, UAE.jpg|thumb|[[Fossil Rock]], or [[Jebel Mleiha]], overlooks the Mleiha Archaeological Centre, which offers tours to the popular destination.]]