Old City of Sana'a

• Problems with the rainwater drainage network
• Modern constructions and uncontrolled expansion of commercial activities
• 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 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/385, presenting the following information:

• The Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property continues to be threatened by current political and economic circumstances, deteriorated condition and collapse of historic buildings, heavy rainfall damage, lack of resources, and ongoing conflict;
• Efforts are made to protect and preserve the property, but require strengthening with urgent financial and technical support;
• Heavy rains caused the partial collapse of some historical buildings, including the Al-Yadumi House in Al-Abhar neighborhood;
• Some preservation projects were implemented through local funding, including works at 45 damaged historic buildings, but concerns remain about other damaged historic buildings for which an evaluation study has been undertaken. Maintenance work was carried out for the main sewage line in the Sayla area;
• Consultation will occur with UNESCO regarding major projects;
• ICOMOS has reviewed projects proposed by local partners, which will not be implemented until conditions specified by the World Heritage Centre are met;
• The Center for Studies and Architectural Training continues providing courses to raise awareness of the importance of preserving traditional building materials and styles;
• Clarification of the boundary and designation of a buffer zone of the property is not proceeding at this time;
• Implementation of 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, has been prevented by lack of resources. The strategy requires updating;
• Collaboration will be pursued to facilitate the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, once the conflict ceases;
• The proposed joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission would be welcome as soon as the situation permits.

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 damage, heritage value, and socio-economic surveys, the selection of priority buildings and a comprehensive technical study have been conducted. The project’s implementing partners – Social Fund for Development and the Public Works Project – are engaged in the rehabilitation of 100 buildings all over the city. This includes the implementation of a pilot integrated urban area consisting of 27 buildings with the necessary infrastructure, such as connection of services, street lighting and rainwater harvesting.

The ongoing conflict, the fragile state of historic structures, heavy rainfall events, economic conditions, and ongoing lack of maintenance continue to threaten the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property. This situation is exacerbated by limited resources for physical conservation works. Nevertheless, the efforts undertaken in capacity building, awareness raising, damage assessment, documentation and repair of historic buildings should be acknowledged.

The achievements during the first phase of the European Union-funded project “Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen”, 2018–2022 were previously commended by the Committee. However, approximately 80% of the damaged buildings are yet to be repaired. In the framework of the second phase of the project: “Youth Employment through Culture and Heritage in Yemen”, 100 buildings are now being targeted.

ICOMOS provided Technical Reviews of two significant projects. For the partially completed rebuilding of the Al-Nahrain Mosque, ICOMOS advised that an urgent Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) should be commissioned to evaluate the potential impact of such projects on the associated historical urban landscape of the property. In addition, ICOMOS noted that more information for the remains of the historical monument is needed, and that documentation of the remains should be clarified. For the rehabilitation of Souk Al-Halaqa and adjacent souks, ICOMOS recommended that additional data collection, and re-consideration of the approach was necessary. ICOMOS noted that the demolition of the former Mosque highlights the need for a review of the protection system for the property.  Moreover, concerns have been recently raised as regards potential new development projects at the property, interventions using modern building materials, and a fire in Al-Halaqa’s blacksmith market area.

In light of the above, it is also appropriate to recall the importance of continuing to provide documentation of major development projects, as well as conservation programmes to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies in advance of project implementation.

The course provided through the Center for Studies and Architectural Training raised awareness of the importance of preserving traditional building materials and styles and augmented the previous capacity building programme.

Boundary clarification in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines remains 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 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, including through any necessary updating, following the Reactive Monitoring mission, with the benefit of international support.

The Old City of Sana’a remains subject to ascertained and potential danger and should remain on the List of World Heritage in Danger.