H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has issued administrative Decree No. 13 of 2017 for the establishment and formation of the Supreme Committee of the Sharjah File "Trucial States Portal."

The issuance reflects Sheikh Sultan's keenness to unite efforts for the achievement of the ultimate goal, which is to include a number of Sharjah's heritage sites on the World Heritage List.

The decree stipulates that the Supreme Committee shall be established in the Emirate of Sharjah. It will be called the Supreme Committee for the File of Sharjah - the Trucial States Portal. Its functions and powers are to include that it is to ensure continuous and effective co-ordination between the competent authorities for the protection and promotion of the cultural heritage and the administrative office of the Sharjah File "Trucial States Portal."

Its other functions include protecting the sites nominated for the World Heritage List and taking appropriate decisions regarding them; monitoring the proper implementation of the recommendations by the Committee, and in conformity with the standards of UNESCO; promoting the Sharjah File of the ‘Trucial States Portal’ in co-ordination with the concerned authorities in the emirate, and any other tasks assigned to the Committee by the Sharjah Ruler or the Chairman of the Committee.

The decree also states that the Supreme Committee of the Sharjah File will form the "Trucial States Portal" headed by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, with the membership of the Chairman of the Sharjah Heritage Institute, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, Director-General of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Shurooq, and other entities to be added later on the basis of a decision by the Chairman of the Committee.

The Committee held a meeting, which was chaired by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Shurooq, and attended by Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage; Dr. Sabah Jasim, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority; Manal Ataya, Director-General of the Sharjah Museums Authority;, and Marwan Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq.

The meeting also witnessed the presentation of development projects of the competent institutions, the study of their support for the preservation of the sites, and discussion on the need to establish an executive technical committee for daily management operations and preservation of sites.