Abu Dhabi discovers 3,000-year-old Iron Age cemetery in Al Ain region

The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced the discovery of the first major Iron Age cemetery in the UAE.

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The 3,000-year-old necropolis, found in Al Ain Region, was unearthed by DCT Abu Dhabi's Archaeology Section of the Historic Environment Department. The site likely includes more than one hundred tombs containing an array of grave goods, and casts a new light on a previously unknown chapter of the UAE's rich heritage.

Jaber Saleh Al Merri, Director of the Historic Environment Department at DCT Abu Dhabi, said, "This discovery promises to transform our understanding of the ancient Emirates. For years, the Iron Age burial traditions remained a mystery, but now we have tangible evidence that brings us closer to the people who lived here 3,000 years ago. It reinforces our efforts to preserve, promote, and protect Abu Dhabi's heritage for future generations."

The new findings support DCT Abu Dhabi's ongoing efforts to better understand the history and ancient communities of the Arabian Peninsula. As the single best preserved and richly documented chambered tomb necropolis from the Iron Age, the new site in Al Ain Region offers a rare glimpse into the region's social, cultural, and economic dynamics at a key stage in its development.