Historic Town of Zabid

• Threats arising from the armed conflict in Yemen
• Deliberate destruction of heritage
• Land conversion
• Financial resources
• Human resources
• Management system / management plan
• Serious degradation of the city’s heritage (many houses and the ancient souq are in an alarming state of deterioration)
• Housing (Large percentage of the city's houses replaced by inappropriate concrete buildings)
• Large sections of the city’s open spaces have been privatized, either illegally or informally and more than 30% of these are built-up
• Reduction in support and resources arising from political and socio-economic disturbances

• Serious deterioration of the built heritage (a high percentage of the residential houses being replaced by concrete and multi-storey buildings)
• The remaining houses in the city are rapidly deteriorating, due to the prevailing low income of the inhabitants
• Since the souq activities have been transferred outside the city, the ancient souq is almost empty and free from any type of activity and the shops are falling apart
• The traditional economic role of the city has vanished
• The city in general, is lacking any conservation and rehabilitation strategies
• Threats arising from the armed conflict in Yemen

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4357 (requires revision)

Adopted; see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1282 (requires revision)

Identified; see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4357 (requires revision)

Total amount granted: USD 14,000 from the Italian Funds-in-Trust and the France-UNESCO Cooperation Agreement

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 (Sana’a, Shibam, Zabid and Aden)

2019-2020: USD 40,200 from the Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF) for post flood emergency interventions on two historic houses of outstanding importance in Zabid World Heritage site

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

On 30 January 2024, a report on the state of conservation of the property was submitted, an executive summary of which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/611/documents/, presenting the following information:

• The Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property continues to be threatened by economic and social factors, deteriorated condition of historic buildings, illegal construction, heavy rainfall damage, lack of organizational and financial resources, and ongoing conflict. Nevertheless, works have continued to protect and preserve the property;
• Efforts to halt violations are being made, involving all relevant stakeholders;
• Six building violations were removed during 2023, and new building licenses will only be issued once a ‘Zabid Guide’ is completed;
• A project for the conservation of 60 historic buildings has been undertaken with local funding. In addition, studies for the conservation of the historic Zabid Castle, and a field survey of buildings affected by the 2023 torrential rains were carried out;
• Proposals to clarify the property’s boundary and buffer zone will be prepared in consultation with UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies, with a proposal to be submitted in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines;
• There is a strong desire to implement the National Strategy for Preserving the Cultural Heritage of Historic Cities in Yemen 2016-2020 and the Emergency Action Plan to Protect Cultural Heritage in Yemen, but lack of resources has prevented progress, and funding support would be welcome. Yet, the strategy needs updating before implementation;
• The World Heritage Committee request to all parties to protect the property from impact from conflict is welcome;
• Ongoing technical and financial support is needed to preserve authenticity and integrity of the property so that it may be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger, once conflict ceases;
• The proposed joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission would be welcome as soon as feasible, and should assess the state of conservation, and identify measures to address the effects of conflict and ensure sustainable conservation.

The second phase of the UNESCO/European Union project “Youth Employment through Culture and Heritage in Yemen” has allowed advancing with the rehabilitation of historical buildings. Based on socio-economic surveys, the selection of buildings and a comprehensive technical study have proceeded. The project’s implementing partners – Social Fund for Development and the Public Works Project – are engaged in the rehabilitation of 100 buildings and two public spaces in the city. As part of the rehabilitation methodology for this phase, removal of building violations within the rehabilitated houses is now being conducted that includes removing elements that are built using cement blocks or even reinforced concrete and replacing them using traditional building materials.

Ongoing conflict, the fragile state of many historic structures, heavy rainfall events, economic conditions, and ongoing lack of maintenance continue to threaten the OUV of the property. This situation continues to be exacerbated by the lack of organizational support and scarce resources, which limit effective heritage management and physical conservation works.

Notwithstanding these challenges, the efforts of local and international actors have made progress in protecting and conserving attributes which support the OUV of the property. Pro-active action regarding building violations is welcome as is the preparation of a ‘Zabid Guide’. The reported conservation of approximately 160 dilapidated or damaged historic buildings is commendable, as is the implementation of the second phase of the ‘Youth Employment through Culture and Heritage in Yemen’ project, including documentation for works to 100 buildings. The capacity building workshops and training previously reported to the Committee are important to ensure that these programmes comply with building regulations, and respect original materials and building techniques, thereby maintaining attributes which convey the OUV of the property, including its authenticity and integrity.

Definition of the boundary clarification and a minor boundary modification for the property in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines remain important for ensuring the protection of the property and the State Party should be encouraged to pursue this process.

Noting the threat to the property posed by conflict, the Committee may wish to reiterate its former request to all parties to refrain from any further action that would cause damage to the cultural heritage of Yemen and the OUV of the property, and to fulfil their obligations under international law, in particular the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. The ratification of the Second Protocol (1999) to the 1954 Hague Convention, by Yemen on 1 June 2023 is an important step towards contributing to the protection of cultural property in the country.

The previously requested Reactive Monitoring mission should visit the property as soon as the security 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 the Reactive Monitoring mission, with the benefit of international support.

The Historic Town of Zabid remains subject to ascertained and potential danger and should remain on the List of World Heritage in Danger.