Sharjah: The Gateway to Trucial States,” SGTS, is the management office of Sharjah’s bid to include eight of the emirate’s cultural heritage sites on the prestigious list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, which include the Historic Town of Sharjah; Al Hisn (Sharjah Fort); Al Mahatta Airport Terminal; Al Mirgab former military camp; inland oasis and fort in Al Dhaid; inland forts along the caravan routes in Fili; mountain agricultural settlement of Wadi Al Helo; and archeological remains of the fortifications on the east coast at Khorfakkan.

Located along one of the world’s oldest international maritime trade routes, the UNESCO nomination is based on the Proposed Statement of Outstanding Universal Value. Sharjah’s strategic location has been instrumental in the formation and development of the Trucial States, a unique system of governance that led to cultural and economic links between the East and West in the 19th century.

As a part of this project, the history, culture and tradition of each of these eight sites were researched and studied for their impact and influence on the larger world trade scenario and vice-versa; the methodology to be adopted and applied for the conservation of each of the UNESCO sites was developed, consisting of the articulation of several steps aimed at the construction of the masterplan, assimilating the transformations in their physical and functional characteristics and above all, the system of relationships that these transformations will entail.