Eco-tourism and archaeological landmark competes for ‘Middle East’s Leading National Park’ title against regional sites in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Israel, and Iran.
SHARJAH — July 15, 2026 — Mleiha National Park in Sharjah has been officially named the United Arab Emirates’ exclusive nominee for the prestigious ‘Middle East’s Leading National Park 2026’ title at the annual World Travel Awards. The eco-tourism and cultural heritage destination represents the nation in the final selection, competing against four prominent regional landmarks. The nomination underlines Sharjah’s significant strides in sustainable hospitality, conservation, and archaeological preservation on an international level.
The inclusion of Mleiha National Park in the final shortlist highlights its dual role as a biodiversity reserve and an educational tourism hub. The landmark competes directly with four other regional nominees: Masada National Park in Israel, Asir National Park in Saudi Arabia, Al Saleel National Park in Oman, and Golestan National Park in Iran.
Mleiha holds immense historical weight as a core element of the Faya Palaeolandscape, a region currently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list. The park seamlessly integrates archaeological research, ecological conservation, and desert adventure sports, offering visitors structured experiences that showcase human habitation dating back hundreds of thousands of years.
The World Travel Awards stands as one of the global tourism sector’s most respected honors, recognizing excellence across destination management, hospitality quality, and ecological preservation.
Public voting for the 2026 cycle is active and will continue until July 31, 2026. Sharjah authorities have encouraged the public to participate in the voting process through the official World Travel Awards portal to support the UAE’s environmental and cultural achievements on the world stage.
