Arab States

It is a challenging time for cultural heritage in parts of the Middle East and North Africa that have seen large-scale devastation, including the desecration and destruction of temples, shrines, cities and monuments.

Now more than ever, ICCROM’s work on cultural heritage protection and preservation in conflict areas is needed. Since it opened its doors in 2012, ICCROM’s Regional Centre in Sharjah (ICCROM-ATHAR Centre), United Arab Emirates, has proven vital to fulfilling the organization’s mandate in the Arab Region by being closer to stakeholders and by leveraging regional collaboration mechanisms and community engagement in a region of many risks but also considerable opportunities. The centre in the UAE has become an important force for cultural heritage advocacy, providing substantive logistical and operational support to ICCROM’s work in the region.

In partnership with Arab Member States, ICCROM-ATHAR aspires to protect the cultural heritage of the Arab region and to broaden access, appreciation and understanding of its history. The Centre focuses on architectural and archaeological tangible heritage, including heritage collections and historic places, sites and monuments. It primarily aims to enhance the capacity of official heritage institutions to manage heritage sites and museum collections on a sustainable basis. It does this through an array of regional educational and field activities, capacity building and training, consultation, information dissemination, symposia, workshops and seminars.

ICCROM-ATHAR’s mission is generously supported by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, as well as Member States and other partners.

Featured

31 Oct 2018

Pioneering Resource on First Aid to Cultural Heritage Now Available

When disasters strike, local communities are the first to try and safeguard their cultural heritage, however their ability to intervene is often greatly reduced during complex and multi-faceted humanitarian crises. At the same time, first responders may not always be aware of what is culturally important, and they often lack the training to handle heritage objects and structures, and meet the...

28 Aug 2018

Community museums of Western Sudan

ICCROM, through its ICCROM-ATHAR Regional Office, is proud to announce receipt of a £997,000 project grant to conserve three community museums in Omdurman, El Obeid, and Nyala, located in Western Sudan. This project will restore the three museums and provide for the educational and cultural needs of their communities, visitors and tourists.

ICCROM and World Heritage Side events at the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee in Manama, Bahrain

30 Jul 2018

Capacity building, the key to better conservation of World Heritage sites

The 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee meeting held in June put a strong emphasis on the importance of capacity building. Numerous committee decisions requested and recommended capacity building for conservation of sites, with the Site Managers Forum adding a firm voice to the importance and vital need for better guidance and assistance.

14 Jun 2018

ICCROM-Sharjah Director honoured in Egyptian awards ceremony

The Egyptian National Organization for Urban Harmony, operating under Egypt’s Ministry of Culture in collaboration with UNESCO, has chosen to honour two prominent architectural heritage specialists from Egypt and the Arab world, for their significant contributions to safeguard cultural heritage.

25 Apr 2018

ICCROM to participate in Al Nouri Mosque reconstruction

Mosul’s iconic Al Nouri mosque and Al Hadba minaret will be reconstructed by a team involving ICCROM and UNESCO, in a five-year project funded by the United Arab Emirates. This news was announced in a press conference by HE Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, who has pledged US$ 50.4 million to support the initiative.

12 Apr 2018

ICCROM at Culture Summit Abu Dhabi

CultureSummit Abu Dhabi 2018, held from 8 – 12 April, is a high-level international summit bringing together leaders from the worlds of government, arts, media and technology to collaborate and address in concrete ways the role culture can play in addressing the great challenges of our time, from poverty and extremism to climate change and conflict.

21 Mar 2018

World Heritage Site Managers' Forum with WH Leadership

World Heritage Site managers from across the globe are invited to participate in this year’s Forum, aimed at continuing to empower World Heritage Site Managers on the international stage.

06 Feb 2018

Arab Forum on Cultural Heritage

The Arab Forum on Cultural Heritage, held in Sharjah, UAE from 6 – 8 February 2018, examines the philosophical contexts and values that inform conservation practices in the wider Arab region.

Mrs Gihane Zaki, Director of the Egyptian Academy in Rome

02 Feb 2018

Visit: Egyptian Academy in Rome

On 2 February, Mrs Gihane Zaki, Director of the Egyptian Academy in Rome and ICCROM Council Member, visited ICCROM.

08 Dec 2017

New Publication Series for the Arab Region

ICCROM and its ICCROM-ATHAR Regional Conservation Centre are launching a new books series on cultural heritage conservation in the Arab Region. Selected Readings from ICCROM-ATHAR will provide a wide range of literature for both professional and academic audiences, aimed at promoting dialogue and debate, and bridging existing gaps in available knowledge resources.