Old City of Sana'a
Factors affecting the property in 1999*
- Deliberate destruction of heritage
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Housing
- Management systems/ management plan
- Other Threats:
Increasing number of dilapidated buildings
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- New buildings;
- Increasing number of dilapidated buildings
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1999
Total amount approved : 32,167 USD
1999 | Exposition of the photographs of the architectures in ... (Approved) | 167 USD |
1998 | Preservation of Al-Maidan steambath in Sana'a (Approved) | 19,000 USD |
1990 | Mission to advise on restoration works on Sana'a Mosque (Approved) | 13,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 1999**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1999
Summary of previous deliberations: At its twenty-second extraordinary session, the Bureau noted the following. A monitoring mission visited the site in June 1998 and found that there was obvious need of co-ordination between the various governmental bodies involved in the city as well as between the World Bank project team and the General Organization for the Preservation of the Historic Cities in Yemen (GOPHCY). The responsible national authorities requested the members of the mission to assist in establishing a new scheme in order to define the roles of various international and national bodies. The mission recommended that UNESCO creates a focal point in Sana’a to co-ordinate preservation activities in Sana'a and in other historical cities of Yemen. The Bureau, after having taken note of the above report of the Secretariat, requested the Centre to assist the Yemeni authorities in establishing a focal point in Sana'a and provide technical assistance to prepare an overall management plan for the city.
New Information:
- Fly-over bridge
In November 1998, a monitoring mission visited the Old City of Sana'a and was informed of a plan for a fly-over bridge (approx. 1,000 m long) to be constructed near the south-west corner of the Old Walled City. In March 1999, a staff member of the UNESCO Amman Office visited the site and found that the proposed fly-over bridge had been modified and its length was shortened from 1,000 m to 400 m. Thus the impact of this construction on the Old City is now reduced, subject to verification that no new changes have been made.
- Great Mosque extension
During the mission of March 1999, the staff was informed of the project of extension of the Great Mosque, which requires the demolition of a number of old houses (approx. 80), to enlarge the entrance space and to a create parking lot. Since some of the old houses, planned for demolition, are of architectural value, the extension should be carried in a way that it respects the values of the site. Furthermore, a member of the mission of November 1998 pointed out that the creation of a parking lot might require wider access roads to the Mosque (specially through Bab el Yemen gate), adding problems to the site.
This project could seriously endanger the integrity of the Old City, by opening large free spaces inside the city, allowing car and truck traffic and destroying old houses.
Following the mission of March 1999, the World Heritage Centre sent a letter to the Permanent Delegation of Yemen requesting them to submit detailed reports on these issues before 15 April 1999 for presentation to the Bureau at its twenty-third session. No answer has been received so far.
Action Required
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1999
23 BUR IV.B.87
Old City of Sana’a (Yemen)
A mission sent by the World Heritage Centre in November 1998 to Sana’a had reported that there were plans for the extension of the Great Mosque of Sana’a and for the construction of a large fly-over between the two parts of the city. The twenty-second extraordinary session of the Bureau (November 1998) recommended that work on these two projects should be halted pending a global study on the development of Sana’a. This was communication to the authorities in January 1999. The Secretariat informed the Bureau that the extension of the Grand Mosque has been abandoned. Furthermore, the Observer of Yemen provided additional information on the flyover, the length of which had been reduced. Consequently, the Bureau requested the Yemeni authorities to collaborate with the Secretariat in studying the holistic management of the site before works began. The Bureau also requested the authorities to receive at their earliest convenience a mission of specialists to study together alternative solutions for the development projects. This mission should report to the forthcoming session of the World Heritage Committee.
![](https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/thumbs/site_0385_0018-376-200-20151105162902.jpg)
Exports
* :
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.