Decision 47 COM 7A.55

Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib (Yemen)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/25/47.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decisions 18 EXT.COM 5.3 and 46 COM 7A.34, adopted at its 18th extraordinary (UNESCO, 2023) and 46th (New Delhi, 2024) sessions respectively,
3. Expressing concern about the lack of detailed and comprehensive information about the state of conservation of the property, encourages the State Party to submit, when conditions allow, detailed documentation on all damage incurred at the property, comprising systematic photographic surveys, drawings, graphics, quantitative data and identification of potential risks;
4. Reiterates its requests to the State Party to implement the recommendations outlined at the time of inscription, as follows:
   1. Halting the implementation of the 2018 Master Plan until a full assessment has been undertaken, through a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), of its potential impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and its setting, and, based on the results of the HIA, undertaking necessary revisions of the Plan,
   2. Reinstating funding for management and conservation,
   3. Developing as a matter of urgency risk preparedness plans for each component part of the property, to address vandalism and looting as well as overall protection,
   4. Including local tribes as traditional custodians of the component parts in the management and protection of the property to ensure buy-in from local communities and prevent potential conflicts,
   5. Extending protection measures onto the post-Sabaean vernacular architecture in the ancient cities of Ma’rib and Sirwah, as part of the safeguarding of the historic and traditional context of the property, and involving local populations in the protection and management of these heritage resources,
   6. Completing an inventory of Sabaean monuments and sites,
   7. Enhancing the coordination of inputs from varied research institutions and international agencies to ensure that there is no duplication of work or resources and to maximise and sustain the initiatives aimed at capacity-strengthening, knowledge production, protection, and management of the property,
   8. Informing the World Heritage Centre of the intention to undertake or authorise all major projects (including fencing) which may affect the OUV of the property, in line with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
5. Recommends that the State Party undertake protection and urgent stabilisation work only in cases where collapse or further damage is imminent, according to the principle of minimal intervention, and that future interventions shall be addressed within the framework of an overall assessment of damage and risks and a comprehensive Conservation Plan prepared in full consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
6. Reminds the State Party that any elements found at the property and resulting from conflict-related damage such as intentional destruction, should be retrieved and gathered in a safe location, and that the boundaries of the property should be protected from illegal excavations and looting;
7. Requests that the invited joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission take place once conditions allow, in order to report on the overall state of conservation of the property, assess the protection of the property and its buffer zone and consider the effectiveness of the property’s boundaries, and advise on the development of the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and related corrective measures;
8. Calls for an increased mobilisation of the international community to support capacity building initiatives and technical assistance for emergency safeguarding measures;
9. Appeals to all States Parties and actors to cooperate in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property coming from Yemen and to contribute towards the safeguarding of its cultural heritage;
10. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2026, 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 48th session;
11. Decides to retain Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib (Yemen) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.