World Heritage Review - Volume 2023, Issue 104, 2023

As the extended 45th session of the World Heritage Committee begins in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we express our gratitude to our hosts for convening the first in-person Committee since the onset of COVID-19. Surrounded by old friends and young professionals alike, we are reminded that this meeting is more than the sum of important decisions taken. It is a powerful platform where we rekindle the sense of ‘heritage community’ and renew our commitment to heritage.

In the heart of AlUla oasis, in north-west Saudi Arabia, lies the prodigious archaeological site of Hegra: its more than 100 monumental tombs, carved in stone, bear witness to the richness of Nabataean civilization, as well as to the multilinear history of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia is a land of ancient civilizations, diverse heritage and abundant archaeological resources. As part of our efforts to advance international cooperation in cultural heritage, we are proud that the Ministry of Culture, represented by the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science - is hosting the 45th Extended Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. We remain focused on protecting heritage, which has a transformative impact on nations, societies and their own cultures. The Session will enable us to engage in a dialogue with our partners around the world, as well as introduce our cultural heritage to new audiences.

It’s Friday morning in Giza, Cairo. Abou al Hool street is a hive of activity with scores of people getting out of buses and taxis to stand in line at the entrance of the Giza pyramid complex. Inside, camels take visitors around the complex, from the grand pyramid to the smaller ones, and finally, to viewing points. There are families, couples, schoolchildren, tour groups, content creators, and solo explorers. Along Abou al Hool, there are shops selling perfumes, rugs, traditional clothes and jewelry. There are also countless hotels and rooftop cafés that entice visitors to stay longer with epic views of pyramids, while horsedrawn carriages are on hand for a tour of Giza beyond the monuments.

People are at the heart of World Heritage, as heritage is valued and cherished by people, created by people, and conserved by and for people. It is people that initiate actions for protection of their heritage and its values, and people that derive benefits from heritage. Investment into developing the capacities of people and communities, therefore, is not only logical but crucial for the future of heritage.

On Cuba Street in Old Havana, the people stand on their balconies in the morning to see how the roof of the former Convent of Santa Clara is coming along. They leisurely sip some freshly brewed coffee and, amid the noise of hammers and saws, watch how carpenters place pieces of wood. This job requires skill and a lot of patience, and they must cover more than 100 linear metres of wooden truss roof. One of the largest of its kind in Latin America, it occupies two square blocks. When the structure is finished, they will climb back up again under the blazing Caribbean sun to lay 10,000 tiles.

The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARCWH) is a Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO. It provides vital assistance to 19 Arab countries in the protection and management of cultural, natural and mixed sites through technical support and the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the World Heritage Committee. ARC-WH was established by Bahrain, as an autonomous and independent legal entity to support States Parties of the Arab region to fulfil their obligations as stipulated in the 1972 World Heritage Convention.

Juliana Strogan is responsible for the Rjukan- Notodden Industrial Heritage Site in Norway, a hydroelectric based industrial ensemble. It is situated in a dramatic landscape of mountains, valleys, and waterfalls, where the natural topography enabled large amounts of hydroelectric energy for industrial production at the global level.

Directly in the middle of Gabon in Central Africa sits the Lopé-Okanda National Park, a diverse landscape of rainforests, savannas, rivers and hills. The UNESCO World Heritage-Listed park covers an area of around 4,900 square kilometres and is known for its rich biodiversity and unique ecosystems.

Urban heritage is more than a testament to our past. It inspires a search for an ideal relationship between person and place. Saudi Arabia has diverse urban heritage and architectural assets across its thirteen regions, beckoning recognition as one of the world’s most important examples of cultural heritage, both in tangible and intangible forms.

During the 18th extraordinary session of the World Heritage Committee that took place at UNESCO Headquarters on 24-25 January 2023, three new sites were added to the World Heritage List: Rachid Karameh International Fair of Tripoli (Lebanon); Landmarks of Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib (Yemen) and Historic Centre of Odesa (Ukraine).

Dr Jasir Suliman Alherbish is the CEO of the Heritage Commission, one of eleven sector commissions of the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia. The Heritage Commission develops, documents and preserves the Kingdom’s heritage sites and advances research activities related to national heritage.

In 2022, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention celebrated its 50th anniversary under the theme 'The Next 50: World Heritage as a source of resilience, humanity and innovation’. The achievement of the landmark Convention is evident in figures, with more than 1,100 cultural and natural World Heritage sites in 167 countries protected and promoted under the Convention. As the Convention enters the next 50 years, leveraging new technologies will be crucial, notably in the face of crises.

‘Peace can only be built on respect for other people and on the acceptance of diversity and tolerance for differences. One of the best ways to spread understanding among peoples is to share the world's natural and cultural heritage.’