Sharjah Launches Mentoring Fellowship Grants for Emirati Youth in Archaeology
The Government of Sharjah, through the Sharjah Archaeology Authority (SAA), has opened applications for the inaugural round of its Mentoring Fellowship Grants for Emirati Youth. This is the third funding category of the Faya Research Grant Programme, a major initiative designed to provide Emirati students and recent graduates with hands-on training, fieldwork, and international research exposure at the Faya Palaeolandscape World Heritage Property. The initiative is delivered in partnership with the University of Tübingen in Germany.
Aimed at Emirati citizens aged up to 35, the Mentoring Fellowship Grants are part of the AED2 million Faya Research Grant Programme, which will operate from 2026 to 2028. The programme, led by the Government of Sharjah and overseen by the Faya World Heritage Property Scientific Committee, seeks to advance scientific knowledge at Faya, reinforce the research foundation of its Outstanding Universal Value, and cultivate a new generation of Emirati heritage specialists. H.H. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi serves as Ambassador of the Faya World Heritage Property.
Following the recent UNESCO World Heritage inscription of Faya Palaeolandscape, global interest in the site’s archaeological significance and scientific value has surged. The fellowship programme responds to this momentum by embedding young Emirati talent and those with archaeology experience into an active World Heritage research environment, connecting academic study with authentic on-the-ground archaeological practice, particularly in Stone Age Archaeology. By tying emerging national talent into ongoing fieldwork at Faya, the fellowship aspires to translate international recognition into sustained local expertise, supporting the long-term preservation of this site—one of the oldest known locations of human occupation in a desert, dating back 210,000 years.
The Faya Research Grant Programme centers on key areas such as archaeological studies and analysis, palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, digital heritage modelling, and heritage conservation. It supports both targeted short-term studies and a comprehensive long-term research project investigating deep-time environmental and human occupation histories. Sharjah Archaeology Authority provides substantial infrastructure and logistical assistance, permitting researchers to focus on scientific outputs, analyses, and high-level publications, all attributed to the Faya Grant. Importantly, the grant supports independent research and does not allow projects that are just continuations or extensions of existing international studies.
The first phase will consist of a Stone Age workshop for ten to fifteen Emiratis in Sharjah. This foundational segment serves as a training and selection stage. Those shortlisted will move on to an intensive international pathway—comprising study visits to major Upper Palaeolithic sites and museum collections in Germany, and fieldwork at the Hohle Fels Cave, itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The final phase brings fellows back to the Faya Palaeolandscape for applied fieldwork, ensuring that international experiences are directly transformed into local archaeological practice and conservation.
Over the three-year period (2026-2028), one annual fellowship will be awarded, each spanning one year’s duration. Each carries a budget of up to AED166,666—totalling up to AED500,000 across the programme period. This funding covers international fieldwork, academic mentoring, research activities, and all logistics linked to the fellowship.
By focusing on the development of Stone Age specialists, this mentoring scheme directly addresses the shortage of prehistory experts in the UAE. The phased approach connects academic learning with expanding field experience and deepens international collaboration. Through participation in world-class research environments, Emirati fellows will be equipped to take on leadership roles in the ongoing stewardship of the Faya site.
The fellowships are offered in collaboration with the University of Tübingen—a prestigious institution recognized for excellence in archaeological research—providing access to elite academic mentorship and advanced field methodologies, thus strengthening the focus on capacity building and knowledge exchange.
Eligibility is limited to Emirati undergraduate or graduate students, recent graduates (within five years), or early career professionals in archaeology, heritage, or relevant sciences, with English proficiency and a strong motivation for a professional future in these disciplines.
Applications are now open and must be submitted in English by 31st March 2026. Further details on application requirements, supporting documentation, and the process can be found on the official Faya Research Grant portal at: https://jebelfaya.ae/faya-research-grant/.
Programme timelines and deliverables are carefully structured, benefiting from robust institutional support with an allowance for flexibility should circumstances require adjustments. All changes will be communicated to applicants promptly.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
