7 incredible World Heritage Sites in the Gulf you didn't know about

When people think of Middle Eastern heritage sites, they usually think of Egypt's Giza Pyramids and Jordan's Petra. The Gulf countries on the other hand, are mostly tied in the popular imagination to massive futuristic constructions and world-topping skyscrapers.

However, there is an overlooked historical and cultural side to the region of the Gulf, which has many incredible heritage sites to show for it. These are seven designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Gulf countries.

The sites of Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and the oasis areas in UAE city of Al-Ain compose a serial property that dates back to prehistoric times. It contains circular stone tombs, wells and a variety of adobe constructions including towers, palaces, and residential and administrative buildings.

The area's significance lies in the fact that it testifies to the presence of sedentary human occupation of a desert region since the Neolithic period with vestiges of many prehistoric cultures, including the Bronze Age and the Iron Age.

It also showcases the transition of cultures in the region from hunting and gathering to sedentary occupation. The site of Hili for example, has one of the oldest examples of the sophisticated 'aflaj' irrigation system, which dates back to the Iron Age.

Al-Zubara is a walled town on Qatar's northwestern coast that was a prosperous pearling and trading center in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, with trading links across the Indian Ocean, Arabia and western Asia.

The town was founded by Utub merchants from Kuwait, it was destroyed in 1811 and then abandoned in the early 1900s. Despite this, the archeological site remains remarkably preserved, due to a layer of sand blown from the desert that has protected what is left of the palaces, mosques, streets, walls, courtyard houses, fishermen huts and harbor.

Its significance lies in the fact that it testifies to an incredible urban trading and peal-diving tradition which allowed the region's coastal towns to flourish, and therefore played a significant role in the formation of the independent states that are today's Gulf countries.

Qal'at Al-Bahrain is a large archeological site on Bahrain's northern coast that dates back to prehistoric times and remained an important strategic spot up until the 16th century, which is evidenced by the variety of commercial and military buildings it contains.

It consists of an artificial hill formed by successive human occupations, a sea tower, a sea channel and palm groves. An incredible Portuguese fort lies on top of the 12-meter hill, which gave the site its name, the Arabic word for fort or castle.

Its significance lies in the fact that it was an important trading port for centuries, and that it was the capital of the Dilmun, one of the most important ancient civilizations of the region. The site is home to the richest remains of this civilization.

Al-Hijr is a large archeological site in Saudi Arabia's Al-Madinah region, it is the largest conserved site of the Nabataean civilization south of Jordan's Petra.

It contains 111 well-preserved monumental tombs, 94 of which have decorated facades dating between the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD, and also has about 50 inscriptions of the pre-Nabataean period. Like Petra, the monuments and tombs of the site are directly cut into the sandstone.

Its significance lies in that not only is it a major site of the Nabataean civilization, but also the fact that it showcases the civilization's well-conserved architectural accomplishments and hydraulic expertise.

Bahla Fort is a massive fort in Oman's Bahla oasis, it is one of the four historic fortresses situated at the foot of the country's Djebel Akhdar highlands.

The fort was founded during the oasis' period of prosperity under the control of Banu Nebhan, the dominant tribe in the central Omani region from the 12th to the late 15th century which made Bahla its capital.

Its significance lies in the fact that its unique archeological makeup, with walls and towers of mud brick on stone foundations, is an incredible example of the forts of the of the medieval Islamic period which showcase the water engineering skills of the early inhabitants for agricultural and domestic purposes. It also testifies to the power of the Banu Nebhan and their influence.

The historic region of Saudi Arabia's Jeddah, which lies on the eastern shore of the Red Sea, was a major port for Indian Ocean trade routes that dates back to the 7th century AD, and the historic gateway for Mecca pilgrims arriving by sea which increased its importance as heritage.

The site's significance lies both in its historic role as a prosperous multicultural center and its distinctive architecture. The area's buildings, which include 19th century tower houses built by the city's mercantile elites, reflect the Red Sea architectural tradition, which is a unique construction style whose preserved vestiges rarely exist today outside the kingdom.

The protohistoic sites of Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn in northwestern Oman constitute a large archeological complex that is the world's most complete collection of settlements and necropolises from the 3rd millennium BC.

The complex contains remarkably preserved monumental stone towers, agricultural irrigation systems, quarries associated with Bronze Age stone-masonry workshops, Bronze Age necropolises, an Iron Age fort and Iron Age tombs. Its significance lies in the fact that it uniquely testifies to the cultural relics and accomplishments of the time period it represents.