News
UNESCO and the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage lead efforts to revise Yemen’s World Heritage Tentative List: A milestone in heritage preservation
The workshops brought together over 40 participants from diverse sectors, including World Heritage site managers, local authorities, academics, researchers, and members of civil society dedicated to heritage preservation. The sessions aimed to empower Yemeni authorities and specialists by equipping them with essential knowledge and practical tools to review the Tentative List, navigate the nomination process, and strengthen effective site management practices.
Dr. Mohammed Jumeh, UNESCO Ambassador to Yemen, emphasized the significance of updating Yemen’s Tentative List, stating:
“The idea of these sessions arose from the necessity to renew and expand the Tentative List. Currently, the list includes only nine sites, which is a modest number considering Yemen’s vast and diverse heritage. Updating the Tentative List will pave the way for preparing new nomination files for the UNESCO Representative List of World Heritage.”
The workshops provided participants with essential knowledge and practical tools to navigate the nomination process and manage heritage sites effectively—discussions centered on identifying Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and site protection and management strategies.
Facilitated by Dr. Hossam Mahdi, an expert in World Heritage processes, the workshops adopted an inclusive and participatory approach. Dr. Mahdi noted:
“The goal of these workshops is to strengthen the capacities of heritage professionals and stakeholders in Yemen to revise the country’s Tentative List in alignment with the World Heritage Convention. A concerted effort ensured a balanced and inclusive participatory process.”
The sessions concluded with the proposal of 37 sites for nomination, ranging from archaeological sites, historic buildings, and fortifications to cultural landscapes and mixed and natural sites.
Dr. Sami Al-Shehab, a Yemeni archaeologist, highlighted the significance of the training:
“These sessions represented a qualitative shift in our approach to preserving Yemen’s cultural and natural heritage. Over three workshops, participants gained a deeper understanding of heritage as a link in humanity's cultural evolution. The program helped form a Yemeni technical team capable of managing these sensitive files by international standards. The sessions were highly organized, with invaluable insights provided by UNESCO and ARC-WH experts.”
Yemen’s heritage is not only a source of local identity and culture but also a vital contributor to sustainable development, offering opportunities for community engagement.
Yemen currently has five properties inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List: Old Walled City of Shibam, the old city of Sana’a, the historic town of Zabid, the Socotra Archipelago, and the landmarks of the ancient Kingdom of Sheba in Marib.
