Old City of Sana'a

• Problems with the rainwater drainage network
• Modern constructions and uncontrolled expansion of commercial activities (issue resolved)
• 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

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: USD 12,074,096 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.

On 1 February 2020, a report on the state of conservation of the property was provided by local technical actors, presenting the following information:

• The armed conflict in Yemen continues to threaten the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and to cause economic and social hardship. The property has incurred irreversible destruction and remains vulnerable;
• Conservation actions have continued when feasible within the available resources. Some buildings were restored using traditional methods and materials;
• Damaged buildings remain under threat, especially in Al-Falihi, Al-Qasimi and Bahr Rajaraj, with two further collapses occurring during 2019;
• During 2019, efforts were focused on rehabilitation work, urgent interventions, regulatory protection, stopping violations and providing technical advice. Building permits were suspended pending completion of guidelines for the Old City of Sana’a;
• The Centre for Architectural Training and Studies (CATS) has been conducting a damage inventory and assessment funded by UNESCO, and continues to provide heritage courses to raise awareness of the importance of preserving traditional building styles and materials. In addition, awareness campaigns have continued involving the community and local NGOs;
• As part of the EU-funded project ‘Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen’, a partnership agreement has been signed between UNESCO and the Social Fund for Development covering the urgent stabilization and rehabilitation of private houses, the Sana’a National Museum, souks areas, Bustan and public spaces. A UNESCO team has been deployed to supervise the implementation, monitoring and evaluation;
• Assistance continues to be needed for the protection of heritage, construction and rehabilitation, management planning, and collaboration in corrective measures for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger.

The security situation in Yemen, in combination with a lack of structured continuous maintenance and of organizational support and resources, continues to obstruct effective heritage management and physical conservation works within the property. In addition, heavy rains, flash flooding in August 2020 and the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic have exasperated an already fragile context.

The efforts of the local technical and international actors, are commendable. The UNESCO Doha Office is contributing to damage assessment and conservation efforts as well as to the broader objectives of providing shelter, livelihoods and community awareness. Despite the challenging circumstances, documentation and conservation works have been undertaken, and a range of training and community awareness programmes have been implemented, many of which in cooperation with UNESCO.

The property continues to require rehabilitation plans that reconcile the maintenance of housing and services with the need to restore damaged precincts and buildings, based on survey and documentation, and by using traditional techniques and materials. Unregulated new constructions and inadequate restorations are incrementally affecting the OUV of the property.

The implementation of the European Union funded project ‘Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen,’ which began in late 2018 through the UNESCO Doha Office, is promoting livelihood opportunities for youth through urban regeneration, including the maintenance and restoration of several buildings in the World Heritage properties of the Old City of Sana’a, the Old Walled City of Shibam and the Historic Town of Zabid that have been damaged by neglect, heavy rains or during the ongoing conflict. It is noteworthy that around 2000 young male and female workers under 35 are already engaged in the cash-based urban rehabilitation works, with guidance from senior master builders, and benefitting from daily wages that allow for the concrete enhancement of community livelihoods within the World Heritage Property. The community-focused approach is seen as critical for the sustainable safeguarding of Sana’a’s cultural heritage as well as a lever of ownership and commitment of the inhabitants.

The World Heritage Centre and UNESCO Doha Office have been coordinating efforts in order to support the State Party in the definition of the boundary clarification and a minor boundary modification for the property, in line with paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines. This will contribute towards ensuring the protection of the property.

The torrential rains of April 2020 have led to further deterioration and aggravated living conditions. Floods resulted in extensive damage to historic houses around the Mahadi Mosque, mainly on the west bank of Al-Sailah. Through the support of UNESCO’s Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF), the UNESCO Doha Office is implementing emergency interventions using preventive physical barriers to protect from future floods, and facilitating the conservation of traditional houses.

By August 2020, unusual torrential rains have brought additional damage to historical houses. According to rapid assessments, three uninhabited houses collapsed, 50 houses were severely hit and 111 houses sustained roof damages. The UNESCO Doha Office and the Social Fund for Development (SFD) have adjusted implementation of the Cash for Work program to respond to the resulting increased needs.

Owing to the prevailing security conditions, it has not been feasible to organize the joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission, with the purpose of assisting the State Party in determining the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and developing the related corrective measures and a timeframe for their implementation. Close cooperation with UNESCO Doha Office, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies continues to be critical, especially in the framework of the Cash for Work project.

Further support from the international community remains essential for building capacity in preventive and conservation measures. For some years, there has been no reported progress in finalizing the draft National Strategy for the Preservation of the Historic Cities, Sites and Monuments 2016 – 2020, nor in the implementation of the Emergency Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Yemen’s Cultural Heritage, adopted at the UNESCO expert meeting in July 2015.

In November 2020, it came to the attention of the World Heritage Centre that works are being planned at the Great Mosque of Sana'a, which include demolishing students’ rooms, known as “Al Manazel”. In February 2021, it was reported that Al-Nahareen Mosque had been demolished and a new mosque was planned in its place. The World Heritage Centre referred the issue to the State Party on both occasions, requesting further information, and recalling the obligation to submit information on major projects to the World Heritage Centre, in compliance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, for the evaluation of the Advisory Bodies.

The Old City of Sana’a remains subject to ascertained and potential danger and it would be appropriate for the property to remain on the List of World Heritage in Danger.