Sharjah 24: In implementing Sharjah Executive Council (SEC) Resolution No. (14) of 2021 regarding the establishment and formation of a special committee to remove the encroachments from the archaeological area of Mleiha, the Municipal Affairs, Agriculture, and Livestock Department held its first meeting.

Present in the meeting were Khalifa Musabah Al Tunaiji, Member of the Sharjah Executive Council, Acting Head of Sharjah Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs Department (SMAAD), Sharjah Police General Command,  Sharjah Department of Town Planning and Survey (SDTPS) and Sharjah Archaeology Authority (SAA).

At the beginning of the meeting, Khalifa Musabah Al Tunaiji welcomed and congratulated the attendees for being elected as members of the Committee on the removal of encroachments from the archaeological area of Mleiha, referring to the directives of the Sharjah Executive Council aiming to remove obstacles, facilitate procedures, relocate waste, and fence archaeological sites to be preserved.

He explained that felling farms and estates in the archaeological area of Mleiha will take place within the Committee's work programme to be implemented within a specific timeframe. 

Al Tunaiji added that all concerned parties will participate, each according to their respective mandates, to complete the project within a short period of time; to work to remove encroachments and obstacles from farms and estates in the vicinity of the archaeological area of Maliha; and to set up a fence surrounding the archaeological area of Mleiha, according to its approved borders. 

During the meeting, Issa Youssef, Director of Archeology Department, was selected to be the Vice-Chairman of the Committee, with the agreement of all concerned parties.

He referred to the importance of the archaeological area of Mleiha,  and the archaeological heritage dating back to the stone ages and to the first centuries AD. 

He also praised the remarkable achievement and role played by the Department of Town Planning and Survey and the Municipality of Mleiha during the last period; in addition to the main role played by SMAAD to accomplish the required tasks.

At the end of the meeting, the members of the Committee extended their thanks and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah the confidence His Highness granted to the members of the Committee; and to Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of Sharjah Executive Council, for his continuous support to the Committee.