Only one of Mleiha’s two heritage claims is a UNESCO World Heritage listing. The Faya Palaeolandscape around Jebel Faya was inscribed on 11 July 2025, the first desert Palaeolithic site on the list. Mleiha’s Iron Age settlement next to it was submitted to UNESCO’s Tentative List on 1 February 2023 and is not yet inscribed.
Both sit in Sharjah’s Central Region, and Mleiha National Park covers 34.2 square kilometres of that landscape. It works as a day trip from Dubai or Sharjah, and every guided experience starts at the Mleiha Archaeological Centre.
Park, centre & Faya: what each name means
Five names get used interchangeably for Mleiha, and each points to something different.
| Name | What it is | Why people go |
|---|---|---|
| Mleiha National Park | Fenced desert reserve of 34.2 sq km, established by Emiri decree and operated by Shurooq | Guided desert drives, fossil sites, stargazing, wildlife |
| Mleiha Archaeological Centre | Museum on the site of a 4,500-year-old Umm an-Nar tomb, and the meeting point for every experience | Artefacts, the exhibition, tickets, the café |
| Faya Palaeolandscape | UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2025, around Jebel Faya | The 210,000-year record of human settlement |
| Mleiha archaeological city | Iron Age settlement dated 300 BCE to 300 CE, on UNESCO’s Tentative List | Tombs, a palace and a fort |
| Moon Retreat & Al Faya Retreat | Two Sharjah Collection stays inside the destination | Overnight desert stays |
History of Mleiha
Mleiha holds more than 210,000 years of human history, from Stone Age toolmakers to a trading kingdom that collapsed in the 3rd century CE.
Faya Palaeolandscape
Faya is the older story. It preserves some of the earliest evidence of human life beyond Africa, with 18 distinct layers of activity recorded from the Palaeolithic to the Neolithic. Its inscription made it the UAE’s second World Heritage property, after the Cultural Sites of Al Ain in 2011.
The Kingdom of Uman
The Iron Age city is the later chapter. Between 300 BCE and 300 CE, Mleiha was the centre of the Kingdom of Uman, a fact settled in 2016 by a tomb and tombstone inscribed in Aramaic and Hasaitic. The kingdom controlled caravan routes and traded with India, Iran, East Africa, the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
Finds from the site include:
- The largest number of Rhodian amphorae recorded on the Arabian Peninsula
- Silver coins struck locally in imitation of Alexander the Great’s tetradrachm
- Horse burials found only at Mleiha, including a horse fitted with a gold bridle
- Hybrid camels, a cross between a dromedary and a Bactrian camel
- Tower tombs among the earliest in the region
The city was abandoned after a violent attack in the 3rd century CE and never reoccupied.
Opening hours & tickets
The Mleiha Archaeological Centre opens at 9 AM every day.
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Sunday to Wednesday | 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM |
| Thursday to Saturday | 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM |
| Experience | Duration | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museum entry | About 40 minutes | AED 25 | AED 15 |
| Archaeological Tour | Up to 90 minutes | From AED 190 | From AED 105 |
| Landscapes Tour in an SUV | 1 hour | From AED 175 | From AED 120 |
A museum guide costs AED 20 extra for up to five guests, subject to availability. The Archaeological Tour covers two late Iron Age sites, including the palace and burial chambers. The Landscapes Tour stops at Camel Rock and Fossil Rock.
Daytime tours can be booked from 9 AM until about 90 minutes before sunset.
Things to do in Mleiha
- The museum: arrowheads from different eras, ancient coins, Rhodian wine jars and inscriptions, plus a multimedia exhibition and a café
- Archaeological Tour: a guided visit to the Iron Age palace and burial chambers, with a drive through the excavated areas
- Fossil Rock & Camel Rock: reached by 4×4 or buggy, with fossils 93 to 65 million years old, including corals and marine life
- Stargazing: guided evenings with telescopes, helped by the park’s remote location and dark skies
- Sandboarding: sold alongside SUV drives on the dunes
- Horse riding: open to all experience levels
- Sky Adventures: aerial flights with views over the park
- Wildlife: more than 100 species have been recorded in the park, including sand gazelles and Arabian red foxes
Choosing by time available
- About 2 hours: museum entry (about 40 minutes) plus the one-hour Landscapes Tour
- Half day: add the Archaeological Tour of up to 90 minutes, which takes you to the palace and burial chambers on site
- Overnight: stay at Moon Retreat and book stargazing, so the dark-sky session needs no night drive
How to book
- Pick the experience. Museum entry works on its own, while tours and activities are separate tickets.
- Reserve on the Mleiha experiences page, or call +971 6 802 1111 or email mleihamanagement@discovermleiha.ae.
- Book at least 24 hours ahead. Guided experiences need a confirmed reservation.
- Arrive at the Mleiha Archaeological Centre, which is the meeting point for all experiences.
Getting to Mleiha
Mleiha is 65 km southeast of Sharjah City, about 39 minutes from Sharjah International Airport and 49 minutes from Dubai International Airport.
From the E102, take the exit for the E55 beside Mleiha mosque. The exit for the Centre follows about two minutes later.
Return transfers to the Centre can be added to tickets for an extra charge.
Where to stay
Two Sharjah Collection retreats sit inside the destination, and the park also runs a glamping camp under the stars that is booked on the experiences page.
Moon Retreat
Moon Retreat is a glamping site in the shadow of Fossil Rock, 15 minutes from the Archaeological Centre. It has 10 domes, 7 of them with private pools, plus two one-bedroom tents and four two-bedroom tents with private pools.
Every unit has a terrace grill, and ready-to-grill meals can be pre-ordered. On-site services are limited by design, so guests largely look after themselves. The salt spa at Al Faya Retreat is open to Moon Retreat guests.
Al Faya Retreat
Al Faya Retreat is a boutique property in a restored 1960s building, with just five rooms. It has a saltwater spa, a pool and a restaurant called The Rock.
Best time to visit
October to April is the comfortable season for outdoor tours, and any time between mid-morning and mid-afternoon works. From June to September, daytime temperatures in the Sharjah desert regularly pass 40°C, so book a sunset slot, when the Camel Rock and Fossil Rock drive is cooler.
Thursday to Saturday run later, with the Centre open until 9 PM, which suits an evening visit. Winter nights are cold in the open desert, so bring a layer for stargazing.
Before you go
- Fossil Rock and Jebel Buhais are visited on guided tours only. The park is fenced, so independent hiking is not possible.
- Self-drive buggy drivers must be 21 or older with a valid driving licence and at least 140 cm tall.
- Dune drives are bumpy and not recommended for pregnant visitors or anyone with back or neck problems.
FAQ
Is Mleiha a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
The Faya Palaeolandscape around Jebel Faya has been one since 11 July 2025. Mleiha’s Iron Age settlement is on UNESCO’s Tentative List and has not been inscribed.
How much does it cost to visit Mleiha?
Museum entry is AED 25 for adults and AED 15 for children. Guided tours are priced separately, from AED 175 for the one-hour Landscapes Tour.
What are Mleiha’s opening hours?
The Archaeological Centre is open 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM from Sunday to Wednesday and 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM from Thursday to Saturday.
Can you hike Fossil Rock without a tour?
No. The national park is fenced, and Fossil Rock is visited on guided tours that start at the Archaeological Centre.
How far is Mleiha from Dubai?
It is about 49 minutes by road from Dubai International Airport.
How long should you spend at Mleiha?
Plan a half day. The museum takes about 40 minutes, the Archaeological Tour up to 90 minutes, and the Landscapes Tour one hour.
Next steps
- Choose between museum entry alone and a guided tour, and reserve at least 24 hours ahead.
- Pick Thursday to Saturday if you want evening hours, since the Centre stays open until 9 PM.
- Add a night at Moon Retreat if you want stargazing without the drive back in the dark.
- Save +971 6 802 1111 for changes to a booking.
