The Old City of Al-Hudaydah (Ḥārat al-Sūr)

The Old City of Al-Ḥudaydah, historically known as Ḥārat al-Sūr (“The Walled Quarter”), has long been referred to as the “City of the Wall.” It was historically inhabited by a community of merchants, including both local residents and foreigners. Among the foreign traders were individuals such as al-Nabrāto, al-Bīr, Fikrī, and Ḥankah. From the Ḥaḍramī community, notable families included Bā ʿAqīl, Bā Suwaydān, Bā ʿAfar, and Bā Ṣaʿar.

The Old City of Al-Ḥudaydah is distinguished by its historic market and its significant role in the trade of coffee and other commodities during the Ottoman period and subsequent Islamic eras. Its strategic location on the Red Sea facilitated cultural exchange with various coastal and maritime trading communities. The city was home to merchants from India and East Asia, which contributed to the formation of a unique cultural, intellectual, and architectural identity.

Criterion (ii): The Old City of Al-Ḥudaydah (Ḥārat al-Sūr) illustrates significant interchange of human values over a span of time and within a specific cultural area of the world. The city reflects a convergence of cultural influences through trade and migration, particularly from South and East Asia, that shaped its architecture, urban fabric, and cultural traditions.

Criterion (iii): The Old City of Al-Ḥudaydah bears exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization that is living. The district of Ḥārat al-Sūr remains a unique and vibrant representation of a historic mercantile and coastal settlement with enduring social and cultural practices.

Criterion (iv): The property is an outstanding example of a traditional building ensemble. The architectural style of the Old City of Al-Ḥudaydah, particularly in Ḥārat al-Sūr, exemplifies the traditional Tihāmah construction techniques and urban design, characterized by multi-story dwellings made of traditional materials such as baked brick (yājūr), lime plaster (nūrah), and coral-based marine lime (nūrat al-baḥr).

The materials and substance of the Old City of Al-Ḥudaydah remain intact and unchanged. Its urban fabric, architectural features, and construction techniques have not been altered or relocated, and the city has not been subject to interventions that would diminish its exceptional value. The district continues to serve its original function as a residential and commercial area, inhabited by families who have lived there for generations.

The property meets the conditions of integrity as it retains all the essential elements necessary to convey its Outstanding Universal Value. The historic core and its buildings are largely preserved, with structural walls and the overall urban form remaining intact. However, some damage has occurred due to recent heavy rainfall, resulting in a need for conservation and restoration efforts in certain areas.