Decision 43 COM 7B.42

Qal’at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun (Bahrain) (C 1192ter)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 41 COM 7B.75, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017),
3. Notes the significant progress achieved by the State Party in the implementation of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan;
4. Also notes that the vision document, zoning proposals and heritage protection strategy of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) are now integrated within the National Land Policy Strategic Plan and National Land Policy Guidelines, and that a range of actions have occurred to facilitate the protection, conservation and sustainable management of the property in line with the 2011 UNESCO Recommendation on Historic Urban Landscapes and the Management Plan for Qal'at al Bahrain 2013-2018;
5. Requests the State Party to expedite the incorporation of new codes within the amended Prime Ministerial Edict No. 28 of 2009: Zoning Regulations for Construction, and to pursue the signature of memoranda of understanding with the owners of lands located within the area designated for the extension of the property, in order to improve its management and conservation;
6. Welcomes the decision not to pursue a temporary causeway connection with Nurana Island, and the thorough and definitive investigations, which have supported the preparation of a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) for the proposed tunnel;
7. Further notes the comprehensive HIA for the proposed ‘Road Connectivity for Nurana Island’ project, concluding that the tunnel will not substantively affect the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, subject to the final design resolution and decisions on construction methodology, and therefore also requests that final designs and details of construction methods for the tunnel be submitted for review by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, prior to the commencement of any on-site works;
8. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2020, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 45th session in 2021.