Yemen

• © UNESCO/Abou Khalil
• Historical town, Sana’a traditional architecture

Yemen joined UNESCO April 2, 1962. It is covered by the UNESCO Office Cairo (Egypt).

UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura made an official visit to Yemen in December 2006.

Within the framework of Education for All, Yemen is participating in UNESCO’s Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE).

The Old City of Sana'a and the Old Walled City of Shibam are inscribed on the World Heritage List. The Historic Town of Zabid was inscribed on the World Heritage List in Danger in 2000, due to threats linked to development. The “Song of Sana’a” was proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003.

Yemen participates in the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and has established the Socotra Archipelago Biosphere Reserve.

Yemen is an active Member State of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP). As in other Arab countries, the management of water resources represent major areas of interest for Yemen.

Yemen is part of the Consultative Committee of the “Arabia Plan”, which aims to promote intercultural dialogue.

A pilot project by UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme in Yemen produced a CD-ROM “The Sana'a Manuscripts”. It introduces Arab calligraphy through Yemeni manuscripts including quranic fragments from the Great Mosque of Sana'a.