Bahla Fort
Factors affecting the property in 2008*
- Commercial development
- Housing
- Legal framework
- Management activities
- Management systems/ management plan
- Other Threats:
Deterioration of the earthen structures of the Fort;
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
a) Deterioration of the earthen structures of the Fort;
b) Lack of appropriate conservation techniques;
c) Urban pressure due to the project for a new market near the Fort and proposals for the urban development of the area;
d) Lack of a management plan and appropriate legislation.
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2008
Total amount provided to the property: USD 25,000 (private funding).
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2008
Total amount approved : 57,000 USD
| 1988 | Financial contribution to works and training for the ... (Approved) | 50,000 USD |
| 1988 | Mission to evaluate the threats to the integrity of ... (Approved) | 7,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 2008**
2001, 2002 and 2003: World Heritage Centre expert missions
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2008
At its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007), the World Heritage Committee reviewed the status of rehabilitation works at the property, and reminded the State Party that the ongoing restoration works should respect international standards for conservation, notably for the rehabilitation of the ancient souk.
With regard to management, a draft management plan was prepared in 2003 and was resubmitted in 2005, but without taking into account the comments of the Advisory Bodies and World Heritage Centre. The World Heritage Committee urged the State Party to finalize and adopt a management plan taking into account these comments and to establish the necessary legal and administrative frameworks for the protection of the property.
At the time of the drafting of this document, the report of the State Party requested by the World Heritage Committee had not been received; and no additional information is available.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2008
32 COM 7B.62
Bahla Fort (Oman) (C 433)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decisions 30 COM 7B.56 and 31 COM 7B.67 adopted at its 30th (Vilnius, 2006), and 31st (Christchurch, 2007) sessions respectively,
3. Regrets that the State Party has not submitted the report requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007), without which it is not possible to assess the progress of activities at the property;
4. Strongly urges the State Party, if it has not already done so, to finalise and adopt the management plan taking into account the recommendations of the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS, and to establish the necessary legal and administrative framework for its implementation;
5. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2009, the adopted management plan in three printed and electronic copies and a detailed progress report on its implementation, the legal framework and administrative structure, as well as the souk project, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009.
Draft Decision: 32 COM 7B.62
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decisions 30 COM 7B.56 and 31 COM 7B.67 adopted at its 30th (Vilnius, 2006), and 31st (Christchurch, 2007) sessions respectively,
3. Regrets that the State Party has not submitted the report requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007), and notes that assessing progress of activities at the property is not possible without such report;
5. Strongly urges the State Party, if it has not already done so, to finalise and adopt the management plan taking into account the recommendations of the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS, and to establish the necessary legal and administrative framework for its implementation;
6. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2009, the adopted management plan in three printed and electronic copies and a detailed progress report on its implementation, the legal framework and administrative structure, as well as the souk project, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009.
OmanExports
* :
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.
