The World Heritage Committee has inscribed three new Arab sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List during its 46th session held in New Delhi, India, which continues until the end of July. The newly inscribed sites are: “Saint Hilarion Monastery/Tell Umm Amer (Palestine),” “Umm al-Jimal (Jordan),” and “The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw (Saudi Arabia).”
The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) is participating in this year’s World Heritage Committee meeting and, in cooperation with international organizations, is organizing side events that highlight issues related to the preservation and conservation of Arab cultural and natural world heritage. These events will provide an opportunity to promote the region’s cultural and natural treasures, offer advice and support to Arab member states of the World Heritage Convention, and follow up on the files of Arab World Heritage sites.
On this occasion, His Excellency Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage, extended his congratulations on behalf of ARC-WH and its staff to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Palestine for having their sites inscribed on the World Heritage List. He affirmed that this achievement aligns with the vision of ARC-WH and all concerned Arab entities and international organizations striving to enhance the presence of Arab heritage on the list.
He noted that this success is evidence of the growing interest in the region in preserving cultural and natural heritage, which is an essential part of Arab identity and culture. Even though most of the sites inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger are Arab, there is a collective desire to change this reality. He emphasized that ARC-WH is working tirelessly to support Arab countries in preserving and conserving their heritage sites.
Saint Hilarion Monastery/Tell Umm Amer, located in the Gaza Strip, is one of the oldest historical sites in the Middle East. Founded by Saint Hilarion, it lies at the crossroads of major trade routes between Asia and Africa, serving as a centre for religious, cultural, and economic exchange. The inscription will provide better protection for the site and access to financial and technical support to ensure its conservation and assist in its rehabilitation when needed.
Umm al-Jimal is the seventh Jordanian site on the World Heritage List and the third Nabatean city after Petra and Umm ar-Rasas. It is notable for its evidence of the historical inhabitants’ intelligent adaptation to a water-scarce region. The city is located 86 kilometres from the capital, Amman, and has a Nabatean-Roman-Byzantine character, making it one of the oldest historical sites in Jordan.
The archaeological area of Al-Faw is one of the largest sites in Saudi Arabia and is located 700 kilometres southwest of the capital, Riyadh. The area was the capital of the ancient Arab Kingdom of Kinda, known as “Dhat Kahl,” dating back to the 4th century BC. It includes remains of human settlements, over 2,800 tombs, agricultural areas, and a collection of rock art and inscriptions.
The post Three New Sites from the Arab Region Inscribed to the World Heritage List: ARC-WH Highlights Need for More Arab Heritage Representation appeared first on Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH).