Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib
Factors affecting the property in 2024*
- Desertification
- Flooding
- Housing
- Illegal activities
- War
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Collateral and deliberate damage related to the armed conflict
- Vandalism and looting
- Development pressures related to the population growth in the area of Ma’rib city
- Environmental factors having negative impact on the archaeological sites
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
- Collateral and deliberate damage related to the armed conflict
- Vandalism and looting
- Development pressures related to the population growth in the area of Ma’rib city
- Environmental factors having negative impact on the archaeological sites
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
Not yet drafted
Corrective Measures for the property
Not yet identified
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
Not yet identified
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2024
N/A
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2024
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2024**
N/A
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2024
On 19 February 2024, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, an executive summary of which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1700/documents/. Progress in a number of conservation issues addressed by the Committee at its previous session is presented as follows:
- Unstable conditions continue to prevent the local authorities from implementing field inspections and projects. Despite ongoing contact with donors and international organizations regarding research funding, the prevalence of armed conflict and the unsecure situation, particularly in the component of the city of Sirwah, are discouraging project implementation;
- In the absence of fences to improve site control, the State Party is reporting increased damages at the property;
- Lack of available budget, training, and limited availability of skilled human resources, has created additional challenges for the conservation and preservation of the property;
- Engagement initiatives with the local community will be important in an effort to raise awareness;
- Correctives measures to reach the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) are suggested in the State Party’s report.
The State Party ensures that no encroachment took place within the boundaries of the property since its inscription in early 2023, and the current laws are still enforced. According to the report, most of the sites in the Marib Oasis are in a good security situation, and suitable for implementing projects.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2024
Despite the evident instability and security conditions prevailing in Yemen, non-field actions such as urban master plan revision, scientific coordination and archiving, conservation strategy and capacity building are strongly recommended to the State Party.
All recommendations made by the World Heritage Committee at the time of inscription of the site (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.3) are still in need of application and should be recalled.
There is still a lack of detailed and comprehensive information about the state of conservation of the property. The Committee may wish to encourage the State Party to submit, when conditions allow, detailed documentation on all damage incurred at the World Heritage property. The required information should include systematic photographic surveys, drawings, graphics, quantitative data and the identification of potential risks.
The Committee may also wish to advise for all future interventions to be addressed within the framework of an overall assessment of damage and risks, and for a comprehensive Conservation Plan to be prepared in full consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies.
It is important to recall that any elements found at the property and resulting from conflict-related damage such as intentional destructions, should be retrieved and gathered in a safe location, and that the boundaries of the property be protected from illegal excavations and looting.
The State Party has invited a Reactive Monitoring mission to the property, as recommended by the Committee in Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.3. It is recommended that this mission take place once conditions allow.
The Committee is advised to appeal to States Parties 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.
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2024
Draft Decision: 46 COM 7A.34
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A,
- Recalling Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.3, adopted at its 18th extraordinary session (UNESCO, 2023),
- Notes with appreciation the efforts of the State Party in providing an informative report, with indications on the damage and challenges incurred, as well as in seeking partnerships and support for funding;
- Requests the State Party to implement the recommendations outlined at the time of inscription, as follows:
- 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,
- Reinstating funding for management and conservation,
- 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,
- 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,
- 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,
- Completing an inventory of Sabaean monuments and sites,
- 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,
- 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;
- 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;
- Recommends that the State Party undertake protection and urgent stabilization 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;
- 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 the boundaries of the property protected from illegal excavations and looting;
- Also notes with appreciation the invitation from the State Party for a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission, and also requests that the mission take place once conditions allow, in order to report on the overall state of conservation of the property; to assess the protection of the property and its buffer zone, and consider the effectiveness of the property’s boundaries; and to 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;
- Calls on all Member States of UNESCO to support emergency safeguarding measures, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
- Appeals to States Parties 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;
- Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2025, 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 47th session,
- Decides to retain Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib (Yemen) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Yemen
Documents examined by the Committee
46COM (2024)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.
