Rock Art in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia

• Need to extend the buffer zone of the Jabal Umm Sinman component
• Visual impact of the rain water diversionary dam near Jubbah and of the water tower on the eastern side of Jabal Umm Sinman
• Lack of visitor infrastructures and of a tourism management strategy

On 17 December 2018, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report. An update, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1472/documents/ and comprising various annexes, was submitted on 19 February 2019 and reports the following:

• The State Party notes the previous increase of the buffer zone from 100 to 150 metres, and re-states the view that the area of the proposed further extension of 1.0 to 1.5 kilometres to the west and south is covered with high sand dunes, making the area unsuitable for any development that would have a negative visual impact on the integrity of the property. Accordingly, the State Party maintains that this further extension effectively operates as part of the buffer zone. The State Party also notes that there is close coordination between national and municipal authorities, boundary markers have been installed, and the site monitoring team has been strengthened to ensure that there is no infringement that would potentially threaten the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV);
• Updated information is provided on the presentation of the property to visitors, including the construction of elevated pathways, design of new information panels, changes to road access, including the reduction of car traffic within the Jabal Um Sinman component site as well as the publication of a scientific book on rock arts in the region, which will be printed in 2019;
• The masking works were completed in 2015, but were subsequently compromised in 2017 due to neglect and tampering, leading to destruction. The State Party is now organizing the re-planting of the rain water diversion in consultation with the municipality;
• A system for monitoring rock art has been developed and equipment installed since 2015. Training of staff in the use of monitoring equipment is now under way;
• A number of management and coordination priorities are noted to be addressed in 2019, including those related to the abovementioned issues in addition to cleaning campaigns, awareness programmes to combat vandalism, installation of lighting, signage and other facilities, and increasing site safety and security.

The World Heritage Committee has previously recommended the extension of the buffer zone for one component of the property – Jabal Umm Sinman. The most recent decision of the Committee (41 COM 7B.85) requested the State Party to clarify whether there were any impediments to formalizing an extended buffer zone of 1.0 to 1.5 km, as had originally been recommended. The State Party’s report re-states its view that the extension area is already protected by the natural topography of the area, and that coordination with municipalities and site monitoring will help achieve protection. However, no information is provided concerning any impediments to formalizing an extended buffer zone. It is recommended that the Committee reiterate its request to the State Party to implement a formal extension to the buffer zone of the Jabal Umm Sinman component in order to prevent any visual impact on the integrity of the property.

The State Party has addressed the three issues noted in the Committee’s previous decision:

• In the case of the masking work, it is clear that some of this work has not been successful because of neglect and intentional damage, which is cause for concern. The efforts of the State Party to rectify this damage are welcomed, although the exact timeframe for rectification is not indicated in the report. Therefore, it is recommended that the Committee request that an update on this matter be transmitted to the World Heritage Centre;
• In the case of the visitor infrastructure, the works are not yet completed, and no specific timeframe has been provided;
• Regarding monitoring, while equipment has been installed, staff are not yet trained to undertake the monitoring. The State Party’s report that this shall be carried out in the coming months is welcomed.

The purpose of the previous Committee request was to consider the success of these activities in the context of the property’s Management Plan. In all cases, it is currently too early to assess these activities.