Old City of Sana'a

• Problems with the rainwater drainage network
• Modern constructions and uncontrolled expansion of commercial activities (issue resolved)
• Lack of a Safeguarding Plan (issue resolved)
• Fly-over bridge project (issue resolved)
• Uncontrolled vertical and horizontal additions
• Management activities (Use of inappropriate building materials and techniques)
• Densification of the historic fabric through occupation of green areas
• Functional decay of the residential neighbourhoods
• Continued vulnerability of the property, as a result of extreme conditions since 2011
• Threats arising from the armed conflict in Yemen
• Physical damage and instability of buildings
• Urgent need for shelter for displaced residents
• Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
• Desertification of green areas and public gardens/orchards
• Works at the Great Mosque of Sana'a and Al-Nahareen Mosque

Damages and threats related to the armed conflict in Yemen

Not yet drafted

Not yet identified

Not yet identified

Total amount granted: 1988: USD 374,800, UNDP/UNESCO project in support of local staff training and fund-raising. 2004-2006: USD 680,000 for the Inventory of the historic city (Italian Funds-in-Trust and Fund for the International Campaign for the Safeguarding of the city of Sanaa);

USD 12,000 for technical assistance in support of the reconstruction of the al-Qasimi neighborhood (Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH));

Total amount granted to Yemeni cultural properties: USD 194,836 from the European Union for damage assessments, capacity development and emergency stabilization of damaged buildings and protection of archaeological sites;

2018-2021: 9,780,000 EUR from the European Union for the project “Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen” (Shibam, Sana’a, Zabid and Aden);

2019: USD 100,000 from the Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF) for the reconstruction of the al-Qasimi neighborhood in old Sanaa;

2020: USD 97,245 from the Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF) for post flood emergency interventions in Sana’a;

2022-2026: USD 22,552,000 from the European Union for the project: Youth Employment through Culture and Heritage in Yemen

2023: USD 925,925 from Japan for Building Climate-resilient Communities in Historic Cities in Yemen through Strengthened Disaster Risk Management and Awareness (Old City of Sana’a and Old Walled City of Shibam)

On 31 January 2022, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, an executive summary of which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/385, presenting the following information:

• The Old City of Sana'a continues to face many challenges and threats from the conflict in Yemen as well as those arising from natural factors, including the impact of heavy rains resulting in threats to around 380 earthen structures and the collapse of the sewer system;
• The implementation of conservation projects, supported by the UNESCO Office for the Gulf States and Yemen, has continued in the framework of the European Union funded project: "Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen" in partnership with the Social Fund for Development (SFD). The project supported capacity-building, including a workshop about managing cultural heritage sites during disasters and conflicts involving 46 trainees and museum managers in Yemen, documentation, and in securing and strengthening historic buildings in the Old City;
• Local actors have also contributed to rescue projects for threatened buildings;
• Funding from the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund has helped to secure buildings in the al-Qasimi neighbourhood and elsewhere from flood damage;
• No further work has been carried out in the Great Mosque of Sana'a, and work at Al-Nahareen Mosque is currently suspended and plans will be referred to the World Heritage Centre;
• There has been no progress with the National Strategy for the Preservation of the Historic Cities, Sites and Monuments 2016-2020, nor in implementing the Emergency Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Yemen’s Cultural Heritage;
• There are no current intentions to propose modification to the property boundary, but a clarification of the existing property boundary has been proposed;
• Support from the UNESCO Office for the Gulf States and Yemen is acknowledged and UNESCO, the Advisory Bodies, and the international community are urged by the State Party to continue supporting the property, through further conservation funding and capacity building with site managers and others working in the city.

The ongoing situation in Yemen, in combination with a lack of regular maintenance and of organizational support and resources, continues to obstruct effective heritage management and physical conservation works. In addition, damage arising from torrential rains in 2020 is not yet fully repaired and heavy rains continue to pose a threat to the stability of many structures.

The European Union-funded project “Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen”, which was implemented between 2018 and 2022 by UNESCO, has promoted livelihood opportunities for youth through urban regeneration, including the maintenance and rehabilitation of buildings, The project has provided job opportunities to 6,263 young Yemenis in the four targeted cities (Old City of Sana’a, Old walled City of Shibam, Old Town of Zabid and historic areas of Aden), and has contributed to damage assessment and conservation. Documentation and conservation works have been undertaken, and a range of training and community awareness programmes have been implemented. In the framework of this project, 210 residential houses have been rehabilitated at this property, and Al-Falihi and Khudair squares with associated infrastructure have been repaired, with the restoration of 58 façades overlooking the squares and the installation of new pavements and drainage. In addition, the National Museum was stabilized and rehabilitated, and parts of the City Wall have been repaired. In terms of capacity building, more than 880 beneficiaries were engaged in training activities focusing on traditional construction techniques and the standards required in the preservation of historical sites. A new phase of the project, entitled ‘Youth Employment through Culture and Heritage in Yemen’ has been launched, with funding by the European Union.

Rehabilitation plans need to reconcile the maintenance of housing and services with the need to restore damaged precincts and buildings, based on survey and documentation, using traditional techniques and materials. Unregulated new constructions and inadequate restorations continue to affect attributes which support the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property.

In February-March 2022, the World Heritage Centre received information regarding a reconstruction project for the Shu'ob Gate (Bab Shu’ob). As noted by ICOMOS in relation to this project, hypothetical reconstruction of previously built elements within the property could jeopardise its authenticity. While the merits of reconstructing features that have endured recent damage, arising from conflict, are recognised, work should be based on reliable evidence and be analogous to large-scale ‘repair’ work. The longstanding absence of Shu’ob gate is part of the history of the property, and if there is a desire to interpret the former gate, this should be achieved by means other than through conjectural reconstruction.

In May 2023, UNESCO received a set of documents for a rehabilitation project for souq al-Halaqa, which are currently being technically reviewed by ICOMOS. These documents also include information regarding the design for the reconstruction of Al-Nahareen Mosque.

It would be appropriate to request that no works are implemented in the framework of these projects, pending the conclusion of the technical review, and to recall the obligation to systematically submit information on major projects to the World Heritage Centre, in compliance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, for review by the Advisory Bodies, before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse. It is also important to recall that in accordance with Paragraph 118bis of the Operational Guidelines, proposed major works should be assessed, in line with the new Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessment in a World Heritage Context, as they could have a negative impact on the OUV of the property, including its authenticity and integrity, which is already vulnerable.

Support by UNESCO in the definition of the boundary clarification and a minor boundary modification for the property, in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines, would contribute towards the protection of the property and should be pursued, despite the reluctance to make boundary changes in the current context.

Further support from the international community remains essential for building capacities in preventive and conservation measures. The previously requested Reactive Monitoring mission should visit the property as soon as the situation allows. The challenges in finalizing the National Strategy for the Preservation of the Historic Cities, Sites and Monuments 2016-2020, and implementing the Emergency Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Yemen’s Cultural Heritage, are acknowledged and it is hoped that these may progress, following a mission, preferably with international support.

The Old City of Sana’a remains subject to ascertained and potential danger, and it would be appropriate for the property to remain on the List of World Heritage in Danger.