Cities and regions／United Arab Emirates
Place of interest ·

Mleiha Archaeological Centre

Mleiha Archaeological Centre introduces Faya’s prehistory and pre-Islamic Mleiha through stone tools, funerary contexts, tombs and earthen architecture. It provides a starting point for interpreting the desert landscape and its different chronologies.

Exterior of Mleiha Archaeological Centre against Sharjah's desert landscape.
Photo by Nemravik Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
The place

What makes it special

  • Stone tools and technological change
  • Funerary contexts, including the Umm an-Nar tomb
  • Links between excavations, tombs and landscape
Circular Umm an-Nar tomb in Mleiha's archaeological landscape.
Photo by Angela Manthorpe Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Limestone ridge and sand in the desert landscape around Faya.
Photo by Angela Manthorpe Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel atlas

Articles in Mleiha Archaeological Centre

Guides to this place

1 article

Mleiha Archaeological Centre

journal.travel Editorial

Guides to this place

1 related guides

Exterior of Mleiha Archaeological Centre against Sharjah's desert landscape.

Mleiha and Faya: Understanding a Desert of Water, Stone and Footprints

A day trip from Sharjah linking the Mleiha Archaeological Centre, ancient tombs and Faya’s prehistoric landscape—without confusing adventure with interpretation.

Read guide →
Information in context

Sources and references

This profile summarises our destination guides. Their research sources and the geographical reference are listed below.

Profile updated: 24/09/2026