The Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey was established in 1992 on the instruction of the late President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918-2004). ADIAS was charged, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with surveying for, recording and, where appropriate, excavating archaeological and palaeontological sites on the coast and islands of Abu Dhabi. Between 1992 and 2006 ADIAS identified over a thousand sites or groups of sites on the coast and islands, as well as in the desert Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi.
The late Dr Geoffrey R.D. King (1947-2025), Reader Emeritus in Islamic Art and Archaeology at the Department of History of Art and Archaeology at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, was the academic director of ADIAS.
The late Peter Hellyer (1947-2023), Advisor to the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth, was the executive director of ADIAS from 1992-2006.
Many important palaeontological and archaeological sites were first discovered by the ADIAS team between 1992-2006, including:
- an important Late Miocene fossil site near Ruwais.
- Internationally important Late Miocene animal trackways, including the spectacular Mleisa proboscidean trackway.
- an important Middle Palaeolithic site at Jebel Barakah.
- important neolithic coastal sites on Delma Island, Ghagha Island and Marawah Island.
- important neolithic sites within the Rub al-Khali desert at Umm az-Zamul.
- a Bronze Age trading post on Sir Bani Yas Island.
- a 7th-8th century church and monastery with associated courtyard houses, representing an important christian settlement of the Church of the East.
- an abandoned fort of the Bani Yas discovered in the Al Dhafra region.
- the identification of a significant complex of vernacular architecture on Delma Island, comprising the Bait al-Muraykhi pearl trader's house (today's Delma Museum), as well as the al-Muraykhi, al-Dawsari and al-Muhannadi mosques.
Last updated: 25 September 2025