Arab States
The Arab States region consists of 19 States Parties that have ratified the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, with a total of 88 properties currently inscribed on the World Heritage List.
The Arab States region is rich in its cultural and natural heritage, reflecting a diversity of values and features, and spanning various periods from prehistory to the modern era.
80
Cultural Properties
3
Mixed Properties
5
Natural Properties
21
In Danger
1
Delisted
Periodic Reporting
Cycle 3
© Shutterstock / EM Campos / Baalbek, Lebanon
The Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting in the Arab States was launched in 2018 following Decision 41 COM 10A (Krakow, 2017), in accordance with Article 29 of the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The reporting exercise was implemented between September 2018 and July 2019, with the participation of States Parties in the region and the World Heritage properties inscribed on the World Heritage List by the time of launching the exercise in 2018.
All of the 19 States Parties and 82 World Heritage properties (74 cultural properties, 5 natural properties and 3 mixed properties) participated in the exercise, by responding to the online questionnaire. In collaboration with the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH), several workshops were organized to facilitate the process, and subsequently, a draft Report and draft Action Plan were prepared in consultation with the World Heritage national focal points and site managers of the region, Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee, and World Heritage experts. The draft Action Plan is based on the analysis of outcomes the Periodic Report, focusing on priority needs and areas that have been highlighted by States Parties. It is an overall framework proposed for States Parties, along with the World Heritage site managers and other stakeholders, to appropriate the Action Plan and decide on the actions that would be relevant for implementation by the respective authorities.
The Report on the results of the Third Cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise in the Arab States (Document WHC/21/44.COM/10A) was presented for adoption at the extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee. The Report and the Third Cycle Regional Action Plan were endorsed by the Committee in Decision 44 COM 10A (Fuzhou / online, 2021).
Cycle 3: Report and Action Plan
Main results
Arab States Region
English Français
Report on the results of the Third Cycle of the Periodic Reporting
exercise in the Arab States
Third Cycle Regional Action Plan
English Français
Framework of the Third Cycle Draft Action Plan for the Arab States (2021-2027)
Quantitative Summary of the Outcomes of Section I
Quantitative Summary of the Outcomes of Section II
Results of the Monitoring Indicators for the Arab States
© UNESCO / First workshop for World Heritage site managers (Anglophone countries), 26-27 March 2019, Cairo, Egypt
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July 2018
Information session on the Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting
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November 2018
November 2018: First Regional meeting for focal points for World Heritage in the Arab States
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February 2019
Second National Focal Points Meeting for Periodic Reporting Workshop
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March 2019
First sub-regional workshop for World Heritage site managers (Anglophone countries)
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April 2019
Second sub-regional workshop for World Heritage site managers (Francophone countries)
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July 2019
Third Cycle Periodic Reporting: A Collaborative Implementation in the Arab States
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July 2020:
Online regional meeting to discuss the outcomes of the Periodic Reports and draft Action Plan
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November 2020
Online meeting - World Heritage in Danger in the Arab States Region - Processes and Actions
Cycle 2
Main results
Arab States Region
English Français
Report on the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting in the Arab States
Action Plan for the Arab States Region
English Français
Action plans developed during the Regional meeting in Rabat (7-9 March 2011) by the Gulf, Maghreb and Middle East sub-regions successively.
Read moreImpact of Covid-19
On World Heritage Sites in the Arab States
© Shutterstock / mehdi33300 / Medina of Fez, Morocco
According to a UNESCO report published in May 2021, the impact of COVID-19 on World Heritage will continue for years. COVID-19 has impacted all sectors and all regions, and World Heritage properties in the Arab States are no exception. Restrictions on movement of people and access to certain areas, including World Heritage sites, have been imposed. The World Heritage Centre monitors World Heritage site closures due to COVID-19 and updates the global map on the closure of World Heritage sites weekly.
Site Managers
of World Heritage sites in the Arab States
tell us how they are coping with the crisis.
We would like to thank all our partners in the field for their collaboration. See more Site Manager videos from other regions: Site Managers report on Covid-19.
Read more:
Arab States Partners and Field Offices
© Think Heritage / Melanie Münzner / Dilmun Burial Mounds, Bahrain
Several conservation, protection and capacity building activities in the region are carried out through cooperation between the States Parties, the World Heritage Centre, the Advisory Bodies, UNESCO Offices in the field, and the Arab Regional Center for World Heritage (ARC-WH) in Bahrain. The network of UNESCO partners plays an essential role in the implementation of specific activities at the local and regional levels.
Field Offices
in the
Arab States Region
National Office to Jordan
National Office to Iraq
Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States - Cluster Office for Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and the Palestinian Territories
Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States - Cluster Office for Egypt and Sudan
Cluster Office for Gulf States and Yemen
Our Partners
International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM)
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Arab regional Center for World Heritage (ARC-WH)
Arab League Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (ALECSO)
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO)
African World Heritage Fund (AWHF)
- Five youth-led projects bring together heritage and peacebuilding in the Arab States region 13-Jan-2021
- Online Meeting on World Heritage in Danger in the Arab States Region - Processes and Actions 04-Dec-2020
- Online technical meeting for Libyan properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger 04-Dec-2020
- 'Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention' now available in Arabic 24-Sep-2020
- Strengthening collaboration and communication with the AWHF 23-Sep-2020
- UNESCO rallies international community to safeguard Beirut’s cultural life and heritage 13-Aug-2020
- UNESCO convenes partners to coordinate support for cultural heritage after the tragic explosion in Beirut 10-Aug-2020
- 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
- Online technical meeting for Libyan properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger 25-Nov-2020-25-Nov-2020
- Online technical meeting for Syrian properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger 19-Nov-2020-19-Nov-2020
- 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