World Heritage n°60 - World Heritage in the Gulf Region

Special Issue - World Heritage in the Gulf Region

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Message by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO

Interview with Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa, Bahrain Minister of Culture

Map of World Heritage sites in the Gulf Region

Qal’at al-Bahrain – capital of the Dilmun civilization
The Qal’at al-Bahrain, also known as the Bahrain Fort, is an archaeological site. It was the capital of the Dilmun civilization, and witnessed the construction of a fort lastly occupied by the Portuguese.

Bahla Fort – vestiges of an immense medieval fortress
Bahla Fort was built in the 13th and 14th centuries, when the oasis of Bahla was prosperous under the control of the Banu Nebhan tribe.

Protohistoric sites in Oman –Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn
The protohistoric site of Bat lies near a palm grove in the interior of the Sultanate of Oman. Together with the neighbouring sites, it forms the most complete collection of settlements and necropolises from the 3rd millennium BC in the world.

Frankincense – the wealth of Oman
The frankincense trees and the remains of the caravan oasis vividly illustrate the trade in frankincense that flourished in this region for many centuries.

Traditional subterranean irrigation systems of Oman
Aflaj are the main source of irrigation water in Oman. They have been utilized in agriculture as well as domestically since ancient times.

Al-Hijr – a Nabataean settlement in Saudi Arabia
The Archaeological Site of Al-Hijr (Madâin Sâlih) is the largest conserved site of the civilization of the Nabataeans south of Petra in Jordan.

Ad-Dir’iyah – cradle of the House of Saud
This property was the first capital of the Saudi dynasty, in the heart of the Arabian Penisula, north-west of Riyadh. Founded in the 15th century, it is a unique example of the Najdi architectural and decorative style.
Tentative Lists – Looking to the future