The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/10B,
- Recalling Decisions 35 COM 10C.3, 37 COM 10C.3, 38 COM 10B.3 and 39 COM 10B.3 adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011), 37th (Phnom Penh, 2013), 38th (Doha, 2014) and 39th (Bonn, 2015) sessions respectively,
- Acknowledges the progress accomplished in the follow-up of the second cycle of Periodic Reporting in the Arab States and encourages them to continue their efforts in the implementation of recommendations;
- Notes with concern that the safeguarding of cultural heritage in countries of the region which are affected by conflicts has become one of the priorities of the Regional Programme;
- Reminds the States Parties about the importance of the Bonn Declaration adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015);
- Recalls the recommendation of the Chairperson of the 35th session of the World Heritage Committee (UNESCO, 2011), contained in her letter addressed to all the Arab countries, on the establishment of national entities for World Heritage;
- Encourages States Parties to continue the implementation of the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape in order to enhance the conservation of urban heritage sites inscribed on the World Heritage List;
- Thanks the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH), based in Bahrain, for its support to the implementation of the Regional Programme and invites Arab States to strengthen their cooperation with the ARC-WH;
- Reminds States Parties which have not already done so to submit their Retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value by 1 February 2017 at the latest, as well as clarifications of boundaries by 1 December 2016 at the latest;
- Requests the World Heritage Centre to present a progress report on the implementation of the Action Plan for Arab States that allows a comparison of implementation status with the approved Action Plan at its 41st session in 2017.