Arab States
The Arab States Region possesses a rich cultural and natural heritage. The region consists of 18 countries that have ratified the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The Region counts with 86 properties inscribed on the World Heritage as follows:
78
Cultural properties5
Natural properties3
Mixed properties21
In Danger1
DelistedFrom archeological prehistoric sites, to Rock art sites, to ancient Greek sites, to Roman sites and from pre-Islamic till modern heritage in Rabat. The Region’s World Heritage is a fusion of cultures and heritages from East to West leaving landmarks from almost every significant historic period.
With the balance tipping more towards cultural sites, natural sites are slowly increasing in number as the regional mindset changes it’s direction. The conservation and maintenance on these sites strengthens the surrounding communities’ ties with the properties and their rich history whilst improving the region socially, economically and environmentally. This improvement will put fewer sites in danger and improve the life of local communities surrounding the sites. Incorporating this mindset within communities will be a challenging process that will prove fruitful over time for the State Parties and for UNESCO.
Each year the World Heritage Committee examines the state of conservation of the Arab States cultural, mixed and natural properties on the list to examine their current state.
Access the Arab States Region state of conservation report
Action Plan
© Martin Gray / Petra jordan
At its 32nd session, the World Heritage Committee decided on the preparation of the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting (Decision 32 COM 11B) and on the launching of the exercise with the Arab States (document WHC-10/34.COM/10A; Decision 32 COM 11B) at the forefront, as had been the case in the First Cycle.
Report on
First Cycle
of Periodic Reporting
in the Arab States
Report on
the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting
in the Arab States
The new periodic reporting cycle will be launched in 2017
after the past three years of reflection.
Action Plan
The following tables present the action plans developed during the Regional meeting in Rabat (7-9 March 2011) by the Gulf, Maghreb and Middle East sub-regions successively.
Arab States partners
and Field Offices
Conservation, protection and capacity building activities in the region are carried out through reinforced cooperation among the States Parties, the World Heritage Centre, the Advisory Bodies and UNESCO Offices in the field, in addition to the Arab regional Center (ARC) in Bahrain. The network of UNESCO partners plays an essential role in the implementation of Arab State specific activities at both a local and regional level.
Links from our partners
iucn.org/regions/west-asia
iucn.org/regions/mediterranean
2015 IUCN ROWA annual report
The Silk Roads: an ICOMOS Thematic Study
Rock art of Sahara and North Africa: an ICOMOS Thematic study
#Unite4Heritage
#Unite4Heritage is a global movement powered by UNESCO that aims to celebrate and safeguard cultural heritage and diversity around the world. Launched in response to the unprecedented recent attacks on heritage, the campaign calls on everyone to celebrate the places, objects and cultural traditions that make the world such a rich and vibrant place.
News (27)
- Call for Participants: Arab World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 06-Sep-2019
- The site of the Birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem (Palestine) removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger 02-Jul-2019
- The Arab States region starts the Third Cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise 18-Sep-2018
- Call for application for the Strengthening Capacities of World Heritage Professionals in the Arab Region for Cultural and Mixed sites 13-Jul-2018
- Reconstruction and recovery in Iraq: Reviving the Spirit of Mosul 01-Jul-2018
- UAE, UNESCO and Iraq Conclude Historic $50m Partnership to Reconstruct Mosul’s Iconic al-Nouri Mosque and al-Hadba Minaret 23-Apr-2018
- UNESCO Director-General welcomes the liberation of Hatra and will send Emergency Assessment mission “as soon as possible” 28-Apr-2017
- UNESCO Director General sends rapid assessment mission to the Nimrud archaeological site in Iraq 14-Dec-2016
- “The Value of Heritage” 24-Nov-2016
- Libya’s five World Heritage sites put on List of World Heritage in Danger 14-Jul-2016
Events (3)
- International Expert Meeting on the Conservation and Revitalization of the Kasbah of Algiers, a World Heritage property 20-Jan-2018-24-Jan-2018
- Call for application: TABE’A Programme Training Series: Tentative Lists and Nomination preparation for Natural World Heritage sites 07-Jun-2016-27-Jul-2016
- Post-Conflict Reconstruction in the Middle East Context, and in the Old City of Aleppo in particular (18-19 June 2015) 18-Jun-2015-19-Jun-2015