jump to the content
Advanced search

State of Conservation (SOC)

Historic Town of Zabid (2005)

Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0 (from1994-2003)
Total Amount Ap proved: 154,167USD

2003   Safeguarding the Historic Town of Zabid   40,000  USD
2001   Historic City of Zabid (PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED)   50,000  USD
1999   Exposition of the photographs of the architectures in Yemen   167  USD
1998   Construction of the furnace for making mud bricks, a restoration ...   19,000  USD
1994   Preparation of a publication on Zabid   15,000  USD
1994   Urgent protection works in the Historical Town of Zabid   30,000  USD
Missions**

2002 and 2003, international expertise

December 2004, World Heritage Centre

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

Deterioration of the traditional urban fabric; loss of integrity and authenticity; socio-economic degradation.

Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

Within the framework of the International Assistance Request submitted by the Yemeni authorities and approved by the World Heritage Committee at its 27th session (UNESCO, 2003), a Stakeholders’ meeting was organized in December 2004, aiming at widening the consultation at the local level, at bringing together decision makers, representatives of the civil society, and international experts. The presence of the Minister of Culture and of the Director of the World Heritage Centre during parts of the meeting highlighted its importance and strengthened the position of the local authorities as well as their will to act in favour of the old city. It is expected that the impact of this meeting and of its recommendations will generate a number of activities towards the rehabilitation and economic revitalization of the city, which is in a very serious state of deterioration.

A Report on the State of Conservation of the Historic Town of Zabid, prepared by the General Organization for the Preservation of Historic Cities in Yemen (GOPHCY), was received by the World Heritage Centre in February 2005. As concerns the general state of conservation, this report declares that ‘compared with the previous UNESCO reports from 2001 to 2003, the situation has not really changed.’ It does predict, however, that the sewerage project will be completed by October 2005, that studies on the storm-water drainage and leveling of the streets and squares have been completed and that implementation of the works is due to start in April 2005. Restoration work is under way on a number of monuments (Bab El-Qurtub Gate, Al-Ashaer Mosque, Citadel). The local branch of GOPHCY is drafting a comprehensive action plan, due to be submitted for official approval before summer 2005, to solve the problem of illegal constructions by means of a long-term compensation scheme and the removal of such violations within the public spaces of the city.

The Urban Conservation Plan elaborated by UNESCO experts still misses some components, notably the implementation of the inventory. In the meantime, the Ministry of Public Works has finalized an Urban Development Plan which provides for a one km buffer zone, an articulation zone, and an area for the development of a new urban settlement on the north-eastern side of the city. This Plan has been adopted by means of a decree and it has to be completed with the detailed Conservation Plan within six months from the adoption of the decree (April 2005).

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

29COM7A.19
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29. COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decision 28 COM 15A.20 taken at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),

3. Commends the State Party of Yemen on the progress it has made over the past year in halting illegal constructions,

4. Regrets, while appreciating the adoption of the urban development plan, that it does not integrate the urban regulations drafted for the historic core nor the conservation plan;

5. Strongly urges the State Party to complete and adopt the Conservation Plan;

6. Encourages the State Party to define, in cooperation with the World Heritage Centre, an action plan for the socio-economic revitalization of the city, thus helping in the safeguarding of the heritage, in implementing the recommendations of the Stakeholders’ Meeting for the safeguarding of the historic town of Zabid (Yemen, 13-15 December 2004);

7. Requests the State Party to submit, by 1 February 2006, a report on progress made in the implementation of the above recommendations, for examination by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006).

8. Decides to retain Historic Town of Zabid (Yemen) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Draft Decision: 29 COM 7A.19

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29. COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decision 28 COM 15A.20 taken at its 28th sessions (Suzhou, 2004),

3. Commends the State Party on the progress that it has made over the past year in the halting of illegal constructions,

4. Regrets while appreciating the adoption of the Urban Development Plan, that it does not integrate the urban regulations drafted for the historic core nor the Conservation Plan;

5. Strongly urges the State Party to complete and adopt the Conservation Plan;

6. Encourages the State Party to define, in cooperation with the World Heritage Centre, an Action Plan for the socio-economic revitalization of the city, thus helping in the safeguarding of the heritage, in implementing the recommendations of the Stakeholders’ Meeting;

7. Requests the State Party to submit, by 1 February 2006, a report on the progress made on the implementation of the above recommendations, for the Committee's examination at its 30th session in 2006.

8. Decides to retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Historic Town of Zabid
State Party:
Yemen
Date of Inscription: 1993
Nomination records (Year): 1991
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iv)(vi)
Danger List: Yes
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
Threats*
  • Housing
  • Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
  • Illegal activities
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Other Threats:
    Deterioration of the traditional urban fabric
Documents
WHC-05/29.COM/7A
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 1248
Inscription on the Danger List
Year: 2000
Threats to the Site:
  • Serious deterioration of the built heritage (a high percentage of the residential houses being replaced by concrete and multi-storey buildings);
  • The remaining  houses in the city are rapidly deteriorating, due to the prevailing low income of the inhabitants;
  • Since the souq activities have been transferred outside the city, the ancient souq is almost empty and free from any type of activity and the shops are falling apart;
  • The traditional economic role of the city has vanished;
  •  The city in general, is lacking any conservation and rehabilitation strategies.

The Yemeni government asked for Zabid to be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger to facilitate its preservation.

 


* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.