The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) concluded its participation in the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee, which wrapped up its activities on Wednesday, 31 July 2024, in the Indian capital, New Delhi. ARC-WH, based in Manama, Bahrain, participated in the meeting as an observer. Over ten days, it provided support and advice to Arab countries that are members of the World Heritage Convention and followed up on the files of Arab World Heritage sites studied by the Committee this year.
The Arab world achieved a milestone in representing its natural and cultural heritage on the World Heritage List, as the committee approved the inscription of three new Arab sites during its meeting in New Delhi. These sites are: “Monastery of Saint Hilarion/Tell Umm Amer” (Palestine), “City of Umm el-Jimal” (Jordan), and “The Cultural Landscape of the Al-Faw Archaeological Area” (Saudi Arabia). ARC-WH’s participation in the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee was not limited to providing assistance and advice to Arab countries that are members of the World Heritage Convention. It also organized side events in collaboration with international organizations, shedding light on issues related to the preservation and conservation of Arab cultural and natural world heritage. These events served as opportunities to promote the region’s cultural and natural treasures.
In cooperation with the African World Heritage Fund, the centre organized a discussion session titled “Investing in Heritage in Africa and the Arab Region,” which addressed strategies for enhancing the capacity-building of heritage workers and improving the quality of site nominations to the World Heritage List. Additionally, in collaboration with the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) and the African World Heritage Fund, ARC-WH presented a seminar on heritage interpretation strategies. ARC-WH also organized a side event with the UNESCO Beirut Office on preserving modern heritage in the Arab region.
The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage, hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain since 2012, is the only one of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region. It serves Arab countries and contributes to efforts to preserve their cultural and natural heritage.
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