 | This article needs to be updated.(November 2023) |
This is a list of World Heritage Sites in the Arab states , [1] in Western Asia and North Africa, occupying an area stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the east, and from the Mediterranean Sea.
The list below contains an image of the site or part of the site; the name as inscribed by UNESCO; the location; the nominating state party; the criteria met by the site, including if it is a cultural, natural or mixed; the area in hectares and acres, excluding any buffer zones, with a value of zero implying that no data is published by UNESCO; the year the site was inscribed; and a description of the site.
| Site | Image | Location | Criteria | Area ha (acre) | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qal'at Bani Hammad |  | M'sila Province, Algeria 35°48′50″N04°47′36″E / 35.81389°N 4.79333°E | Cultural: (iii) | 150 (370) | 1980 | In a mountainous site of extraordinary beauty, the ruins of the first capital of the Hammadid emirs, founded in 1007 and demolished in 1152, provide an authentic picture of a fortified Muslim city. The mosque, whose prayer room has 13 aisles with eight bays, is one of the largest in Algeria. Beni Hammad Fort is near the town of Maadid (aka Maadhid), about 225 kilometres (140 mi) southeast of Algiers. [2] |
| Djémila |  | Sétif Province, Algeria 36°19′14″N5°44′12″E / 36.32056°N 5.73667°E | Cultural: (iii)(iv) | 31 (77) | 1982 | Djémila (formerly known as Cuicul) was a Roman town in a mountainous site, comprising a forum, temples, basilicas, triumphal arches and religious buildings and other structures, each adapted to a location 900 m (3,000 ft) above sea level. [3] |
| Casbah of Algiers |  | Algiers Province, Algeria 36°47′00″N3°03′37″E / 36.78333°N 3.06028°E | Cultural: (ii)(v) | 50 (120) | 1982 | The Casbah of Algiers is a unique Islamic city on the Mediterranean coast. It contains remains of a citadel, medieval mosques, and Ottoman palaces. [4] |
| M'zab |  | Ghardaïa Province, Algeria 32°29′00″N3°41′00″E / 32.48333°N 3.68333°E | Cultural: (ii)(iii)(v) | 4,000 (9,900) | 1982 | The intact, traditional human habitat was built around five ksour of the M'zab Valley in the 10th century by the Ibadites. [5] |
| Tassili n'Ajjer |  | Illizi and Tamanrasset Provinces, Algeria 25°30′00″N9°00′00″E / 25.50000°N 9.00000°E | Mixed: (i)(iii)(vii)(viii) | 7,200,000 (18,000,000) | 1982 | A vast plateau on the edge of the Sahara, Tassili n'Ajjer contains more than 15,000 cave engravings that record climatic changes, animal migrations, and the evolution of human life, dating from 6,000 BCE to the first centuries CE. It is also noted for its eroded sandstone landforms. [6] |
| Timgad |  | Batna Province, Algeria 35°27′00″N6°38′00″E / 35.45000°N 6.63333°E | Cultural: (ii)(iii)(iv) | 91 (220) | 1982 | Established by Emperor Trajan in 100 CE as a military colony, Timgad features cardo and decumanus streets, constituting a typical example of Roman town-planning. [7] |
| Tipaza |  | Tipaza Province, Algeria 36°32′00″N2°22′00″E / 36.53333°N 2.36667°E | Cultural: (iii)(iv) | 52 (130) | 1982 | Previously a Carthaginian trading centre, Tipaza was conquered by the Romans and converted into a military base. The site also bears witness to Paleo-Christian and Byzantine influences. [8] |
| Dilmun Burial Mounds |  | Northern Governorate, Bahrain 26°8′59″N50°30′46″E / 26.14972°N 50.51278°E | Cultural: (iii)(iv) | 168.45 (416.2) | 2019 | Located in the western part of Bahrain Island, Dilmun Burial Mounds date back to the Dilmun, the Umm al-Nar culture. They were built between 2050 and 1750 BCE include 21 archaeological sites with more than 11 K burial mounds and 17 royal mounds built as 2-storeyed funeral towers. [9] |
| Qal'at al-Bahrain |  | Northern Governorate, Bahrain 26°13′59″N50°31′38″E / 26.23306°N 50.52722°E | Cultural: (ii)(iii)(iv) | 32 (79) | 2005 | Qal'at al-Bahrain was the capital of the Dilmun civilization and a place of consistent human settlement and occupation from c. 2300 BC to the present. A Portuguese fort stands atop the site. [10] |
| Bahrain Pearling Trail |  | Bahrain 26°14′28″N50°36′49″E / 26.24111°N 50.61361°E | Cultural: (iii) | 35,087 (86,700) | 2012 | Consisting of buildings in Muharraq, oyster beds, a segment of the coast, and a fortress, the site testifies to the pearling tradition that dominated the Persian Gulf from the 2nd century to the early 20th century, when the introduction of cultured pearls from Japan resulted in the crash of pearling economy in Bahrain. [11] |
| Abu Mena |  | Alexandria Governorate, Egypt 30°51′00″N29°40′00″E / 30.85000°N 29.66667°E | Cultural: (iv) | 183 (450) | 1979 | The ruins of the former Christian holy city contain a church, a baptistery, basilicas, public buildings, streets, monasteries, houses, and workshops, and were built over the tomb of Menas of Alexandria. [12] |
| Thebes |  | Luxor Governorate, Egypt 25°44′00″N32°36′00″E / 25.73333°N 32.60000°E | Cultural: (i)(iii)(vi) | 7,390 (18,300) | 1979 | The former capital of Egypt and the city of Amun, Thebes contains temples and palaces at Karnak and Luxor, as well as the necropolises at the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, bearing witness to the height of the Egyptian civilization. [13] |
| Islamic Cairo |  | Cairo Governorate, Egypt 30°03′00″N31°15′40″E / 30.05000°N 31.26111°E | Cultural: (i)(v)(vi) | 524 (1,290) | 1979 | One of the world's oldest Islamic cities and in the middle of urban Cairo, the site dates from the 10th century and peaked during the 14th century. Islamic Cairo contains mosques, madrasas, hammams, and fountains. [14] |
| Giza pyramid complex |  | Giza Governorate, Egypt 30°03′00″N31°15′40″E / 30.05000°N 31.26111°E | Cultural: (i)(v)(vi) | 16,358.52 (40,422.8) | 1979 | Having served as the capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, Giza is host to a variety of funerary monuments, including tombs, ornate mastabas, temples, and pyramids. [15] |
| International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia |  | Aswan Governorate, Egypt 22°20′11″N31°37′34″E / 22.33639°N 31.62611°E | Cultural: (i)(iii)(vi) | 374 (920) | 1979 | Located along the Nile, the site contains monuments such as the Temple of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel and the Sanctuary of Isis at Philae, saved from being submerged by Lake Nasser as a result of the construction of the Aswan Dam. [16] |
| Saint Catherine's Monastery |  | South Sinai Governorate, Egypt 28°33′22″N33°58′32″E / 28.55611°N 33.97556°E | Cultural: (i)(iii)(iv)(vi) | 60,100 (149,000) | 2002 | The orthodox monastery of Saint Catherine is among the oldest Christian monasteries still in function. Dating from the 6th century, it is positioned near Mount Horeb where, according to the Old Testament, Moses received the Tablets of the Law. The region is sacred for Christians, Muslims and Jews. [17] |
| Wadi al Hitan |  | Faiyum Governorate, Egypt 29°20′00″N30°11′00″E / 29.33333°N 30.18333°E | Natural: (viii) | 20,015 (49,460) | 2005 | Located in western Egypt, Wadi Al-Hitan contains fossil remains of the now extinct Archaeoceti, mapping the evolution of the whales from a land-based to an aquatic mammal. [18] |
| Ahwar of Southern Iraq |  | Dhi Qar Governorate Basra Governorate Maysan Governorate Muthanna Governorate | Mixed: (iii)(v)(ix)(x) | 211,544 (522,740) | 2016 | Located in southern Iraq, the site contains three cities of Sumerian origin, namely Uruk, Ur and Eridu, in addition to four wetland areas in the Mesopotamian Marshlands. [19] |
| Babylon |  | Babylon Governorate, Iraq 32°32′31.09″N44°25′15″E / 32.5419694°N 44.42083°E | Cultural: (iii)(vi) | 1,054.3 (2,605) | 2019 | Situated 85 km south of Baghdad, the property includes the ruins of the city which, between 626 and 539 BCE, was the capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. It includes villages and agricultural areas surrounding the ancient city. [20] |
| Citadel of Erbil |  | Erbil Governorate, Iraq 36°11′28″N44°00′33″E / 36.19111°N 44.00917°E | Cultural: (iv) | 16 (40) | 2014 | Situated on the top of a tell and overlooking the city of Erbil, the Erbil Citadel corresponds to ancient Arbela, an important Assyrian political and religious centre dating back to the Assyrian period. [21] |
| Hatra |  | Nineveh Governorate, Iraq 35°35′17″N42°43′06″E / 35.58806°N 42.71833°E | Cultural: (ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) | 324 (800) | 1985 | The fortified Parthian city of Hatra withstood repeated attacks by the Roman Empire in the 2nd century. Its architecture reflects both Hellenistic and Roman influences. [22] |
| Assur |  | Saladin Governorate, Iraq 35°27′32″N43°15′35″E / 35.45889°N 43.25972°E | Cultural: (iii)(iv) | 70 (170) | 2003 | Located on the Tigris and dating from the 3rd millennium BCE, Ashur was the first capital of the Assyrian Empire and the religious centre of the Assyrians. Following its destruction by the Babylonians, the city was briefly revived during the Parthian period. [23] |
| Samarra |  | Saladin Governorate, Iraq 34°20′28″N43°49′25″E / 34.34111°N 43.82361°E | Cultural: (ii)(iii)(iv) | 15,058 (37,210) | 2007 | Located on the Tigris, the Islamic city of Samarra was the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. It contains two of the largest mosques and several of the largest palaces in the Islamic world, in addition to being among the finest example of Abbasid-era town-planning. [24] |
| As-Salt |  | Balqa Governorate, Jordan 32°02′21″N35°43′33″E / 32.03917°N 35.72583°E | Cultural: (ii)(iii) | 24.68 (61.0) | 2021 | Established on three closely-spaced hills in the Balqa (region), As-Salt was the main settlement on the East Bank of the Jordan River that served as a cultural, commercial and financial hub. This prosperity allowed for the influx of people from the region who settled in As-Salt, creating a distinct city built with yellow limestone that had European Art Nouveau and Neo-Colonial styles combined with local traditions. [25] |
| Al-Maghtas |  | Jordan 31°50′14″N35°33′10″E / 31.83722°N 35.55278°E | Cultural: (iii)(vi) | 294 (730) | 2015 | Situated on the Jordan River, Al-Maghtas is considered the location of the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. A Christian pilgrimage site, it contains remains of Roman and Byzantine churches, chapels, a monastery, caves and pools. [26] |
| Petra |  | Ma'an Governorate, Jordan 30°19′50″N35°26′36″E / 30.33056°N 35.44333°E | Cultural: (i)(iii)(iv) | 26,171 (64670) | 1985 | The Nabataean city of Petra was a major trading hub between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia, famed for its rock-cut architecture as well as its mining and water engineering systems. [27] |
| Qusayr 'Amra |  | Zarqa Governorate, Jordan 31°48′7″N36°35′9″E / 31.80194°N 36.58583°E | Cultural: (i)(iii)(iv) | 0.0445 (0.101) | 1985 | The desert castle of Quseir Amra was built in the early 8th century, and had served both as a fortress and an Umayyad royal palace. The site also noted for its extensive frescoes, constituting an important and unique example of early Islamic art. [28] |
| Um ar-Rasas |  | Madaba Governorate, Jordan 31°30′6″N35°55′14″E / 31.50167°N 35.92056°E | Cultural: (i)(iv)(vi) | 24 (59) | 2005 | Established as a Roman military camp, Um er-Rasas grew into a settlement by the 5th century, inhabited successively by Christian and Islamic communities. The largely unexcavated site contains ruins of Roman fortifications, churches with well-preserved mosaic floors and two stylite towers. [29] |
| Wadi Rum |  | Jordan 29°38′23″N35°26′02″E / 29.63972°N 35.43389°E | Mixed: (iii)(v)(vii) | 74,180 (183,300) | 2005 | Situated in southern Jordan, Wadi Rum features a great variety of desert landforms including sandstone valleys, natural arches, gorges, cliffs, landslides and caverns. The site also contains extensive rock art, inscriptions and archaeological remains, bearing witness to more than 12,000 years of continuous human habitation. [30] |
| Anjar |  | Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon 33°43′33″N35°55′47″E / 33.72583°N 35.92972°E | Cultural: (iii)(iv) | — | 1984 | Established in the early 8th century, the city of Anjar was quickly abandoned following the fall of the Umayyad Caliphate, leaving behind ruins of walls, towers, palaces, mosques and baths, constituting an example of Umayyad period town-planning. [31] |
| Baalbek |  | Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, Lebanon 34°00′25″N36°12′18″E / 34.00694°N 36.20500°E | Cultural: (i)(iv) | — | 1984 | Previously known as Heliopolis, the Phoenician city of Baalbek hosts some of the largest and best preserved Roman temples, including the Temples of Jupiter, Venus and Bacchus. [32] |
| Byblos |  | Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon 34°07′09″N35°38′51″E / 34.11917°N 35.64750°E | Cultural: (iii)(iv)(vi) | — | 1984 | Continuously inhabited since the Neolithic Era, Byblos was one of the oldest cities of Phoenician origin. It has since witnessed Persian, Roman, Crusader and Ottoman occupation, each exerting influence upon its architecture. Byblos also played a significant role in the diffusion of the Phoenician alphabet. [33] |
| Kadisha Valley |  | North Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon 34°14′36″N36°02′56″E / 34.24333°N 36.04889°E | Cultural: (iii)(iv) | — | 1998 | The Qadisha Valley has provided shelter for Christian communities since the beginnings of Christianity, hosting a large number of monasteries and hermitages. The Forest of the Cedars of God is among the last locations where Cedrus libani still grows, historically one of the most prized construction materials. [34] |
| Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli |  | North Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon 34°26′21″N35°49′27″E / 34.43917°N 35.82417°E | Cultural: (ii)(iv) | — | 2022 | Located in northern Lebanon, the Rachid Karameh International Fair of Tripoli was designed in 1962 by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer on a 70-hectare site located between the historic centre of Tripoli and the Al Mina port. The fair was the flagship project of Lebanon's modernization policy in the 1960s. [35] |
| Tyre |  | South Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon 33°16′19″N35°11′40″E / 33.27194°N 35.19444°E | Cultural: (iii)(vi) | 154 (380) | 1984 | The ancient Phoenician city of Tyre was one of the foremost maritime powers in the eastern Mediterranean and reportedly where purple dye was discovered. Extant archaeological remains mainly date back to Roman times, including baths, an arena, a colonnaded road, a triumphal arch, an aqueduct and a hippodrome. [36] |
| Cyrene |  | Jabal al Akhdar, Libya 32°49′30″N21°51′30″E / 32.82500°N 21.85833°E | Cultural: (ii)(iii)(vi) | — | 1982 | The formerly Greek colony of Cyrene was Romanized and transformed into a capital, until it was destroyed by the 365 Crete earthquake. The thousand-year-old ruins have remained renowned since the 18th century. [37] |
| Leptis Magna |  | Khoms, Libya 32°38′18″N14°17′35″E / 32.63833°N 14.29306°E | Cultural: (i)(ii)(iii) | — | 1982 | The Roman city of Leptis Magna was enlarged by Emperor Septimius Severus, who was born there. Public monuments, a harbour, a marketplace, storehouses, shops, and homes were among the reasons for its induction into the list. [38] |
| Sabratha |  | Zawiya District, Libya 32°48′19″N12°29′06″E / 32.80528°N 12.48500°E | Cultural: (iii) | — | 1982 | Founded as a Phoenician trading post, Sabratha was briefly ruled by Masinissa of Numidia before its Romanization and reconstruction in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. [39] |
| Ghadamès |  | Nalut District, Libya 30°08′00″N9°30′00″E / 30.13333°N 9.50000°E | Cultural: (v) | — | 1986 | Located in an oasis, Ghadames is among the oldest of pre-Saharan cities and represents a traditional domestic architecture with vertical division of functions. [40] |
| Acacus Mountains |  | Fezzan, Libya 24°50′00″N10°20′00″E / 24.83333°N 10.33333°E | Cultural: (iii) | — | 1985 | The massif of Tadrart Acacus contains thousands of cave paintings in different styles, dating from 12,000 BCE to 100 CE, reflecting changes of flora and fauna in the region as well as different lifestyles of successive populations in the Sahara. [41] |
| Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata |  | Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt, and Oualata,  Mauritania 20°55′44″N11°37′25″W / 20.92889°N 11.62361°W | Cultural: (iii)(iv)(v) | — | 1996 | These four settlements were founded in the 11th and 12th centuries, originally meant to serve caravan trade routes across the Sahara. They gradually evolved into Islamic cultural centres, bearing witness to the nomadic lifestyle of the populations of western Sahara. [42] |
| Banc d'Arguin National Park |  | Nouadhibou and Azefal, Mauritania 20°14′05″N16°06′32″W / 20.23472°N 16.10889°W | Natural: (ix)(x) | 1,200,000 (3,000,000) | 1989 | The park consists of sand dunes, coastal swamps, small islands, and shallow bodies of water; all bordering the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Birds are often found to migrate in the area, accompanied by various species of sea turtles and dolphins, whose presence fishermen often use to attract fish. [43] |
| Volubilis |  | Fès-Meknès, Morocco 34°04′26″N5°33′25″W / 34.07389°N 5.55694°W | Cultural: (ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) | 42 (100) | 1997 | The important Roman outpost of Volubilis was founded in the 3rd century BCE as the capital of Mauretania, later becoming the capital of the Idrisid dynasty. It contained many buildings, the remains of which have survived extensively to this day. [44] |
| Meknes |  | Fès-Meknès, Morocco 33°53′00″N5°33′30″W / 33.88333°N 5.55833°W | Cultural: (iv) | — | 1996 | The former capital of the Alaouite dynasty was founded in the 11th century by the Almoravids and turned into a city with Spanish-Moorish influence during the 17th and 18th centuries. [45] |
| Aït Benhaddou |  | Drâa-Tafilalet, Morocco 31°02′50″N7°07′44″W / 31.04722°N 7.12889°W | Cultural: (iv)(v) | 3 (7.4) | 1987 | The Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou is an example of a traditional pre-Saharan habitat in southern Morocco, surrounded by high walls and reinforced with corner towers. [46] |
| Essaouira |  | Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco 31°31′00″N9°46′10″W / 31.51667°N 9.76944°W | Cultural: (ii)(iv) | 30 (74) | 2001 | Built during the late 18th century, the fortified seaport of Essaouira has a mix of North African and European architecture, and was a major trading hub between the Sahara and Europe. [47] |
| Fes el Bali |  | Fez, Morocco 34°03′40″N4°58′40″W / 34.06111°N 4.97778°W | Cultural: (ii)(v) | 280 (690) | 1981 | Fez was founded in the 9th century and reached its apogee as the capital of the Marinid dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries, from which its urban fabric and major monuments date. It also hosts the world's oldest university, the University of Al Quaraouiyine. [48] |
| Marrakesh |  | Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco 31°37′53″N7°59′12″W / 31.63139°N 7.98667°W | Cultural: (i)(ii)(iv)(v) | 1,107 (2,740) | 1985 | Marrakesh was founded in the 1070s and remained a political, economic, and cultural centre for a long time. Monuments from that period include the Koutoubia Mosque, the kasbah, and the battlements. The city also holds newer features, including palaces and madrasas. [49] |
| Tétouan |  | Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, Morocco 35°34′15″N5°22′00″W / 35.57083°N 5.36667°W | Cultural: (ii)(iv)(v) | 7 (17) | 1997 | Morocco's most complete medina at Tétouan served as the main point of contact between Morocco and Andalusia during the 8th century. The town was rebuilt by Andalusian refugees following the Reconquista, the influence of which is evident in its art and architecture. [50] |
| Rabat |  | Rabat, Morocco 34°01′27″N6°49′22″W / 34.02417°N 6.82278°W | Cultural: (ii)(iv) | 349 (860) | 2012 | Rebuilt under the direction of the French from 1912 to the 1930s, Rabat blends historic and modern features, such as botanical gardens, the Hassan Mosque, and the remnants of Moorish and Andalusian settlements from the 17th century. [51] |
| El Jadida |  | Casablanca-Settat, Morocco 33°15′24″N8°30′07″W / 33.25667°N 8.50194°W | Cultural: (ii)(iv) | 8 (20) | 2004 | The Portuguese fortification of Mazagan, akin to early Renaissance military design from the early 16th century, was taken over by Morocco in 1769. Surviving buildings include the cistern and a Gothic church. [52] |
| Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman |  | Dakhiliyah, Sharqiyah and Batinah Regions, Oman 22°59′56″N57°32′10″E / 22.99889°N 57.53611°E | Cultural: (v) | 1,456 (3,600) | 2006 | The five Aflaj systems inscribed represents an irrigation method dating back to at least 500 CE. Such system effectively distribute water through gravity, as it flows to support agricultural and domestic use. [53] |
| Qalhat |  | Ash Sharqiyah South Governorate, Oman 22°42′N59°22′E / 22.700°N 59.367°E | Cultural: (ii)(iii) | 75.82 (187.4) | 2018 | [54] |
| Archaeological Sites of Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn |  | Ad Dhahirah Region, Oman 23°16′11″N56°44′42″E / 23.26972°N 56.74500°E | Cultural: (iii)(iv) | — | 1988 | Located in the interior of the Sultanate, Bat, al-Khutm and al-Ayn are among the best preserved ensembles of settlements and necropolises from the 3rd millennium BCE in Eastern Arabia and the world. The necropolis of Bat, in particular, reflects the funeral practices of the Early Bronze Age in Oman. [55] |
| Bahla Fort |  | Ad Dakhiliyah Region, Oman 22°57′51″N57°18′04″E / 22.96417°N 57.30111°E | Cultural: (iv) | — | 1987 | The fort is part of Bahla, an oasis settlement and formerly the capital of the Nabhani dynasty, who dominated Oman and prospered in the Arabian Peninsula during the Late Middle Ages. [56] |
| Land of Frankincense |  | Dhofar Governorate, Oman 18°15′12″N53°38′51″E / 18.25333°N 53.64750°E | Cultural: (iii)(iv) | 850 (2,100) | 2000 | The ancient ports of Khor Rori and Al-Baleed, the caravan oasis of Shisr and Wadi Dawkah in southern Arabia were crucial in the production and distribution of frankincense, one of the most sought-after items of luxury in Antiquity. [57] |
| Old City of Jerusalem |  | East Jerusalem 31°46′00″N35°13′00″E / 31.76667°N 35.21667°E | Cultural: (ii)(iii)(vi) | — | 1981 | A holy city for three of the world's major religions, Jerusalem contains more than 200 historic monuments, including the Dome of the Rock, the Wailing Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. [58] |
| Church of the Nativity |  | Bethlehem Governorate, Palestine 31°42′16″N35°12′27″E / 31.70444°N 35.20750°E | Cultural: (ii)(iii) | 3 (7.4) | 2012 | The site is traditionally identified as the birthplace of Jesus. The church, built in the 4th century and reconstructed in the 6th century, holds prominent religious significance to both Christians and Muslims. [59] [60] |
| Battir |  | Bethlehem Governorate, Palestine 31°43′11″N35°07′50″E / 31.71972°N 35.13056°E | Cultural: (iv)(v) | 349 (860) | 2014 | The hill landscape of Battir features stone terraces for market garden, grapevine and olive production, supported by a traditional irrigation system. [61] |
| Hebron |  | Hebron Governorate, Palestine 31°31′30″N35°06′30″E / 31.52500°N 35.10833°E | Cultural: (ii)(iv)(vi) | 20.6 (51) | 2017 | The centre of interest of the town was the site of Al-Ibrahimi Mosque/The tomb of the Patriarchs whose buildings are in a compound built in the 1st century CE to protect the tombs of the patriarch Abraham / Ibrahim and his family. [62] |
| Al Zubarah |  | Al Shamal, Qatar 25°58′41″N51°01′47″E / 25.97806°N 51.02972°E | Cultural: (iii)(iv)(v) | 416 (1,030) | 2013 | The coastal town of Al Zubarah was a major pearling and trading centre in the Persian Gulf in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, before its destruction in 1811 and eventual abandonment in the early 20th century. The remains of its palaces, mosques, harbour, fortifications and other structures are preserved by the sand blown from the desert. [63] |
| Al-Hasa Oasis |  | Hofuf, Al-Ahsa Governorate  Saudi Arabia 25°25′46″N49°37′19″E / 25.42944°N 49.62194°E | Cultural: (iii)(iv)(v) | 8,544 (21,110) | 2018 | [64] |
| Mada'in Salih |  | Al Madinah Province, Saudi Arabia 26°47′01″N37°57′18″E / 26.78361°N 37.95500°E | Cultural: (ii)(iii) | 1,621 (4,010) | 2008 | Formerly known as Hegra, the site of Al-Hijr constitutes the largest settlement of the Nabataean Kingdom after Petra. It contains a series of well-preserved rock-cut tombs and monuments dating back to the 1st century BCE. [65] |
| Diriyah |  | Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia 24°44′03″N46°34′21″E / 24.73417°N 46.57250°E | Cultural: (ii)(iii) | 29 (72) | 2008 | Founded in the 15th century, the Turaif District of Dir'iyah was the first capital of the Saudi dynasty. Dir'iyah witnessed the growth of its political and religious significance, as well as the spread of Wahhabism in the 18th and the early 19th centuries. [66] |
| Bir Hima Rock Petroglyphs and Inscriptions |  | Najran Province, Saudi Arabia 18°14′55″N44°27′6″E / 18.24861°N 44.45167°E | Cultural: (iii) | 242.17 (598.4) | 2021 | Ḥimā Cultural Area contains a collection of rock art images illustrating hunting, fauna, flora and lifestyles of 7,000 years. [67] |
| Al-Balad, Jeddah |  | Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia 21°29′02″N39°11′15″E / 21.48389°N 39.18750°E | Cultural: (ii)(iv)(vi) | 18 (44) | 2014 | Located on the coast of the Red Sea, Jeddah grew into a major commercial centre in the 7th century, and has long served as the principal gateway for pilgrims to Mecca. [68] |
| Rock Art in the Ha'il Region |  | Ha'il Region, Saudi Arabia 28°00′38″N40°54′47″E / 28.01056°N 40.91306°E | Cultural: (i)(iii) | 2,044 (5,050) | 2015 | The sites of Jabel Umm Sinman and Jabal al-Manjor and Raat contain a large number of petroglyphs and inscriptions, covering 10,000 years of human history. [69] |
| ‘Uruq Bani Mu’arid |  | Najran, Saudi Arabia 19°20′13″N45°54′14″E / 19.337°N 45.904°E | Natural: (vii)(ix) | 1,276,500 (3,154,000) | 2023 | The property encompasses the western part of the greatest expanse of windblown sand on Earth, known as Ar Rub' al-KhaIi, and conserves one of the Earth’s most spectacular desert landscapes. [70] |
| Meroë |  | River Nile State, Sudan 16°56′00″N33°43′00″E / 16.93333°N 33.71667°E | Cultural: (ii)(iii)(iv)(v) | 2,357 (5,820) | 2011 | Meroe was the centre of the Kingdom of Kush, a major force active from the 8th century BCE to the 4th century CE. It is home to pyramids, temples, and domestic buildings, among other vestiges. [71] |
| Jebel Barkal |  | Northern State, Sudan 18°32′00″N31°49′00″E / 18.53333°N 31.81667°E | Cultural: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) | 183 (450) | 2003 | The archaeological sites of Gebel Barkal, Kurru, Nuri, Sanam and Zuma in the Nile Valley testify to the Napatan and Meroitic civilisations. They host a series of pyramids, tombs, temples, palaces, burial mounds and funerary chambers. [72] |
| Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay | Sudan 19°44′10″N37°26′35″E / 19.73611°N 37.44306°E | Natural: (vii)(ix)(x) | 199,524 (493,030) | 2016 | Situated in the central Red Sea, Sanganeb, Dungonab Bay and Mukkawar Island feature a diverse system of coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, beaches and islets, and host populations of seabirds, marine mammals, fish, sharks, turtles, manta rays and dugongs. [73] | |
| Ancient Aleppo |  | Aleppo Governorate, Syria 36°14′00″N37°10′00″E / 36.23333°N 37.16667°E | Cultural: (iii)(iv) | 350 (860) | 1986 | Situated at the crossroads of several trade routes, Aleppo has been successively ruled, among others, by the Romans, Ayyubids, Mameluks and Ottomans, each leaving significant influence in its architectural fabric, resulting in a diverse cityscape. Major structures include the Citadel, the Great Mosque and the Madrasa Halawiye. [74] |
| Ancient City of Bosra |  | Daraa Governorate, Syria 32°31′05″N36°28′54″E / 32.51806°N 36.48167°E | Cultural: (i)(iii)(vi) | — | 1980 | Formerly a Nabataean settlement, Bosra was conquered by the Romans in the 2nd century CE and made capital of Arabia. It came under Islamic rule in the 7th century. Remains of the ancient city include a theatre, a basilica, a cathedral, a mosque and a madrasa, among others. [75] |
| Old city of Damascus |  | Damascus Governorate, Syria 33°30′41″N36°18′23″E / 33.51139°N 36.30639°E | Cultural: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) | 86 (210) | 1979 | Established the 3rd millennium BCE, Damascus is considered to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. As the capital of the Umayyads, it has been of significant influence to the Arab world. The Great Mosque is among the largest in the world and the oldest sites of continuous prayer since the beginnings of Islam. [76] |
| Dead Cities |  | Syria 36°20′03″N36°50′39″E / 36.33417°N 36.84417°E | Cultural: (iii)(iv)(v) | 12,290 (30,400) | 2011 | The site comprises some 40 villages, dating from the 1st to 7th centuries and abandoned in the 8th to 10th centuries. They provide an insight into rural life in Late Antiquity and during the Byzantine period. [77] |
| Krac des Chevaliers and Sahyun Castle |  | Homs and Latakia Governorates, Syria 34°46′54″N36°15′47″E / 34.78167°N 36.26306°E | Cultural: (ii)(iv) | 9 (22) | 2006 | The Crac des Chevaliers and the Qal'at Salah El-Din are regarded as two of the most prominent examples of castles during the Crusader period, demonstrating an evolution of fortifications and exchange of influences in defensive technology. [78] |
| Palmyra |  | Homs Governorate, Syria 34°33′15″N38°16′00″E / 34.55417°N 38.26667°E | Cultural: (i)(ii)(iv) | 0.36 (0.89) | 1980 | Palmyra came under Roman rule in the 1st century CE, and grew to become one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world. Its extensive ruins include remains of the Great Colonnade, the Temple of Bel, the Camp of Diocletian and the Roman Theatre. [79] |
| Carthage |  | Tunis Governorate, Tunisia 36°51′10″N10°19′24″E / 36.85278°N 10.32333°E | Cultural: (ii)(iii)(vi) | 616 (1,520) | 1979 | Founded in the 9th century BCE, Carthage developed into a trading empire spanning the Mediterranean. The city was destroyed in 146 BCE in the Punic Wars at the hands of the Romans, but was later reestablished. [80] |
| Dougga |  | Béja Governorate, Tunisia 36°25′25″N9°13′13″E / 36.42361°N 9.22028°E | Cultural: (ii)(iii) | 70 (170) | 1997 | The site features the ruins of Dougga, a former capital of a Libyan–Punic state, which flourished under the Romans and the Byzantines, but went into decline in the Islamic period. [81] |
| Amphitheatre of El Jem |  | Mahdia Governorate, Tunisia 35°17′47″N10°42′25″E / 35.29639°N 10.70694°E | Cultural: (iv)(vi) | 1.37 (3.4) | 1979 | Built during the 3rd century, the Amphitheatre of El Jem is North Africa's largest amphitheatre, and the largest one built outside of Italy, with a capacity of 35,000 spectators, regarded as among the most accomplished examples of Roman architecture of its kind. [82] |
| Lake Ichkeul |  | Bizerte Governorate, Tunisia 37°09′49″N9°40′29″E / 37.16361°N 9.67472°E | Natural: (x) | 12,600 (31,000) | 1980 | Ichkeul Lake and the surrounding wetlands is a destination for hundreds of thousands of migrating birds, including ducks, geese, storks and pink flamingos. It was once part of a chain that extended across North Africa. [83] |
| Kairouan |  | Kairouan Governorate, Tunisia 35°40′54″N10°06′14″E / 35.68167°N 10.10389°E | Cultural: (i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi) | 68 (170) | 1988 | Founded in 670, Kairouan was the former capital of Ifriqiya and flourished in the 9th century. Its heritage includes the Mosque of Uqba and the Mosque of the Three Gates. [84] |
| Medina of Sousse |  | Sousse Governorate, Tunisia 35°49′40″N10°38′19″E / 35.82778°N 10.63861°E | Cultural: (iii)(iv)(v) | 32 (79) | 1988 | A prime example of a town from the early Islamic period, Sousse was an important commercial and military port during the 9th century. [85] |
| Medina of Tunis |  | Tunis Governorate, Tunisia 36°49′00″N10°10′00″E / 36.81667°N 10.16667°E | Cultural: (ii)(iii)(v) | 296 (730) | 1979 | The Medina of Tunis contains some 700 monuments, including palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasah and fourtains, testifying to Tunis' golden age from the 12th to the 16th century. [86] |
| Kerkouane |  | Nabeul Governorate, Tunisia 36°56′47″N11°05′57″E / 36.94639°N 11.09917°E | Cultural: (iii) | — | 1985 | Abandoned in 250 BCE during the First Punic War and never rebuilt, Kerkuane is the only surviving example of a Phoenicio–Punic settlement. [87] |
| Al Ain |  | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 24°04′04″N55°48′23″E / 24.06778°N 55.80639°E | Cultural: (iii)(iv)(v) | 4,945 (12,220) | 2011 | Situated in a desert region, Al Ain has been occupied since the Neolithic period, hosting stone tombs from the 3rd millennium BCE, wells, adobe constructions and one of the oldest examples of the aflaj irrigation system at Bidaa Bint Saud. [88] |
| Zabid |  | Al Hudaydah Governorate, Yemen 14°11′53″N43°19′48″E / 14.19806°N 43.33000°E | Cultural: (iii) | — | 1993 | Zabid was the capital of Yemen from the 13th to the 15th century. Its Islamic university greatly contributed to the spread of Islamic knowledge. [89] |
| Sanaa |  | Sana'a Governorate, Yemen 15°21′20″N44°12′29″E / 15.35556°N 44.20806°E | Cultural: (iv)(v)(vi) | — | 1986 | Situated in a mountain valley, Sana'a has been continuously inhabited for more than 2,500 years. It became a centre for the spread of Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries. The city is home to the unique rammed-earth tower-houses, in addition to 103 mosques and 14 hammams built before the 11th century. [90] |
| Shibam |  | Hadhramaut Governorate, Yemen 15°55′37″N48°37′36″E / 15.92694°N 48.62667°E | Cultural: (iii)(iv)(v) | — | 1982 | The 16th-century walled city of Shibam is among the oldest and best examples of vertical urban planning, with its distinct mud brick tower houses garnering it the nickname "the Manhattan of the desert". [91] |
| Socotra |  | Socotra Governorate, Yemen 12°30′00″N53°50′00″E / 12.50000°N 53.83333°E | Natural: (x) | 410,460 (1,014,300) | 2008 | Although part of the African landmass, the Socotra Archipelago is administered from Yemen. It is known for its great biodiversity and distinct flora and fauna, with a large number of endemic species found nowhere else on earth. It also supports a broad range of avian and marine life. [92] |
The Dilmun Burial Mounds are a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising necropolis areas on the main island of Bahrain dating back to the Dilmun and the Umm al-Nar culture.
The Qal'at al-Bahrain, also known as the Bahrain Fort or Portuguese Fort, is an archaeological site located in Bahrain. Archaeological excavations carried out since 1954 have unearthed antiquities from an artificial mound of 12 m (39 ft) height containing seven stratified layers, created by various occupants from 2300 BC up to the 18th century, including Kassites, Greeks, Portuguese and Persians. It was once the capital of the Dilmun civilization and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.
The Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums (DGAM); Arabic: المديرية العامة للآثار والمتاحف, French: La Direction Générale des Antiquités et des Musées) is a Syrian government-owned agency that is responsible for the protection, promotion and excavation activities in all sites of national heritage in the country. The Directorate was established shortly after Syria's independence in 1946 under the central supervision of the Ministry of Culture.
The World Heritage Earthen Architecture Programme (WHEAP) is a UNESCO initiative promoting earthen architecture founded in 2007 and running till 2017.
Tourism in Iraq refers to tourism in the Western Asian country Iraq. Iraq was one of the main destinations for many years, however it changed dramatically due to conflicts. The tourism in Iraq has faced many challenges, however, in recent years there has been improvements. The capital city Baghdad is the second largest city in the Arab world and the 4th largest in the Middle East. Iraq has several World Heritage Sites, dating back to ancient Mesopotamia, most notably Babylon Iraq. Iraq is considered to be a potential location for ecotourism. Erbil was chosen as "Arab Tourism Capital" in 2014 by the Arab Tourism Committee.
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