The cultural sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oasis) were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2011. The site is a serial property consisting of historic buildings, archaeological sites and oasian landscapes. These sites represent a culture that has evolved over time but is characterized by its ability to overcome the challenges and limitations of a natural and hostile environment and exceptional in terms of agriculture and irrigation, long-distance trade, inter-community relations, architecture and funerary traditions.  

The management plan identified a variety of risks related to site complexity, including loss of context, isolation of archaeological and historical sites, urban pressure, and the risk of loss of urban and natural contexts. The project’s objective was the identification and regulation of buffer zones around the cultural sites of Al Ain, which was crucial for the site’s conservation in the face of building regulations and urban sprawl.