List of World Heritage Sites in the Arab states

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
Djémila		AlgeriaSétif Province,  Algeria 36°19′14″N 5°44′12″E	Cultural:AlgDje (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.[2]
Kasbah of Algiers		AlgeriaAlgiers Province,  Algeria 36°47′00″N 3°03′37″E	Cultural:AlgKas (ii)(v)	50 (120)	1982	The Kasbah of Algiers is a unique Islamic city on the Mediterranean coast. It contains remains of a citadel, medieval mosques and Ottoman palaces.[3]
M'zab Valley		AlgeriaGhardaïa Province,  Algeria 32°29′00″N 3°41′00″E	Cultural:AlgMzb (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.[4]
Tassili n'Ajjer		AlgeriaIllizi and Tamanrasset Provinces,  Algeria 25°30′00″N 9°00′00″E	Mixed:AlgTas (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.[5]
Timgad		AlgeriaBatna Province,  Algeria 35°27′00″N 6°38′00″E	Cultural:AlgTim (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.[6]
Tipasa		AlgeriaTipaza Province,  Algeria 36°32′00″N 2°22′00″E	Cultural:AlgTip (iii)(iv)	52 (130)	1982	Previously a Carthaginian trading centre, Tipasa was conquered by the Romans and converted into a military base. The site also bears witness to paleochristian and Byzantine influences.[7]
Dilmun Burial Mounds		BahrainNorthern Governorate,  Bahrain 26°8′59″N 50°30′46″E	Cultural:BahDil (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.[8]
Qal'at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun		BahrainNorthern Governorate,  Bahrain 26°13′59″N 50°31′38″E	Cultural:BahQal (ii)(iii)(iv)	32 (79)	2005	Qal'at al-Bahrain was the capital of the Dilmun civilization, bearing witness to continuous human occupation from circa 2300 BC to the present. A Portuguese fort stands on the top of the site.[9]
Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy		Bahrain Bahrain 26°14′28″N 50°36′49″E	Cultural:BahPea (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 Arabian 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.[10]
Abu Mena		EgyptAlexandria Governorate,  Egypt 30°51′00″N 29°40′00″E	Cultural:EgyAbu (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.[11]
Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis		EgyptLuxor Governorate,  Egypt 25°44′00″N 32°36′00″E	Cultural:EgyAnc (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.[12]
Historic Cairo		EgyptCairo Governorate,  Egypt 30°03′00″N 31°15′40″E	Cultural:EgyHis (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 reached its golden age in the 14th century. It contains mosques, madrasah, hammams and fountains.[13]
Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur		EgyptGiza Governorate,  Egypt 30°03′00″N 31°15′40″E	Cultural:EgyHis (i)(v)(vi)	16,358.52 (40,422.8)	1979	The capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt has some extraordinary funerary monuments, including rock tombs, ornate mastabas, temples and pyramids. In ancient times, the site was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.[14]
Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae		EgyptAswan Governorate,  Egypt 22°20′11″N 31°37′34″E	Cultural:EgyNub (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.[15]
Saint Catherine Area		EgyptSouth Sinai Governorate,  Egypt 28°33′22″N 33°58′32″E	Cultural:EgySai (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.[16]
Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley)		EgyptFaiyum Governorate,  Egypt 29°20′00″N 30°11′00″E	Natural:EgyWad (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.[17]
The Ahwar of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities		Irq Iraq 31°33′44″N 47°39′28″E	Mixed:IrqAhw (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 Iraqi Marshlands.[18]
Babylon		IraqBabil Governorate,  Iraq 32°32′31.09″N 44°25′15″E	Cultural:IrqBab (iii)(vi)	1,054.3 (2,605)	2019	[19]
Erbil Citadel		IrqArbil Governorate,  Iraq 36°11′28″N 44°00′33″E	Cultural:IrqErb (iv)	16 (40)	2014	Situated on the top of a tell in Iraqi and overlooking the city of Erbil, the Erbil Citadel constitutes a typical example of Ottoman-era urban-planning. In addition to its 19th century fortifications, the site also contains remains dating back to the Assyrian period.[20]
Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat)		IrqSalah ad Din Governorate,  Iraq 35°27′32″N 43°15′35″E	Cultural:IrqAsh (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.[21]
Hatra		IrqNinawa Governorate,  Iraq 35°35′17″N 42°43′06″E	Cultural:IrqHat (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]
Samarra Archaeological City		IrqSalah ad Din Governorate,  Iraq 34°20′28″N 43°49′25″E	Cultural:IrqSam (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.[23]
Baptism Site "Bethany Beyond the Jordan" (Al-Maghtas)		Jor  Jordan 31°50′14″N 35°33′10″E	Cultural:JorBap (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.[24]
Petra		JorMa'an Governorate,  Jordan 30°19′50″N 35°26′36″E	Cultural:JorPet (i)(iii)(iv)	—	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.[25]
Quseir Amra		JorZarqa Governorate,  Jordan 31°48′7″N 36°35′9″E	Cultural:JorQus (i)(iii)(iv)	—	1985	The desert castle of Quseir Amra was built in the early 8th century, and had served both as a fortress and a Umayyad royal palace. The site also noted for its extensive frescoes, constituting an important and unique example of early Islamic art.[26]
Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a)		JorMadaba Governorate,  Jordan 31°30′6″N 35°55′14″E	Cultural:JorUme (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.[27]
Wadi Rum Protected Area		Jor Jordan 29°38′23″N 35°26′02″E	Mixed:JorWad (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.[28]
Anjar		LbnBeqaa Governorate,  Lebanon 33°43′33″N 35°55′47″E	Cultural:LbnAnj (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.[29]
Baalbek		LbnBaalbek-Hermel Governorate,  Lebanon 34°00′25″N 36°12′18″E	Cultural:LbnBal (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.[30]
Byblos		LbnMount Lebanon Governorate,  Lebanon 34°07′09″N 35°38′51″E	Cultural:LbnByb (iii)(iv)(vi)	—	1984	Continuously inhabited since the Neolithic Era, Byblos was one of the oldest cities of Phoenician origin. It has since witness 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.[31]
Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab)		LbnNorth Lebanon Governorate,  Lebanon 34°14′36″N 36°02′56″E	Cultural:LbnOua (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.[32]
Tyre		LbnSouth Lebanon Governorate,  Lebanon 33°16′19″N 35°11′40″E	Cultural:LbnTyr (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.[33]
Archaeological Site of Cyrene		LibJabal al Akhdar,  Libya 32°49′30″N 21°51′30″E	Cultural:LibArcCyr (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.[34]
Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna		LibKhoms,  Libya 32°38′18″N 14°17′35″E	Cultural:LibArcLep (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.[35]
Archaeological Site of Sabratha		LibZawiya District,  Libya 32°48′19″N 12°29′06″E	Cultural:LibArcSab (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.[36]
Old Town of Ghadamès		LibNalut District,  Libya 30°08′00″N 9°30′00″E	Cultural:LibOld (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.[37]
Rock-art sites of Tadrart Acacus		LibFezzan,  Libya 24°50′00″N 10°20′00″E	Cultural:LibRoc (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.[38]
Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata		MauritaniaOuadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt, and Oualata,  Mauritania 20°55′44″N 11°37′25″W	Cultural:MauAnc (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.[39]
Banc d'Arguin National Park		MauritaniaNouadhibou and Azefal,  Mauritania 20°14′05″N 16°06′32″W	Natural:MauBan (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.[40]
Archaeological site of Volubilis		MorFès-Meknès,  Morocco 34°04′26″N 5°33′25″W	Cultural:MorArcVol (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.[41]
Historic City of Meknes		MorFès-Meknès,  Morocco 33°53′00″N 5°33′30″W	Cultural:MorHis (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.[42]
Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou		MorDrâa-Tafilalet,  Morocco 31°02′50″N 7°07′44″W	Cultural:MorKsa (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.[43]
Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador)		MorMarrakesh-Safi,  Morocco 31°31′00″N 9°46′10″W	Cultural:MorEss (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.[44]
Medina of Fez		MorFez,  Morocco 34°03′40″N 4°58′40″W	Cultural:MorMedinaofFez (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.[45]
Medina of Marrakesh		MorMarrakesh-Safi,  Morocco 31°37′53″N 7°59′12″W	Cultural:MorMedinaofMarra (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.[46]
Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin)		MorTanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima,  Morocco 35°34′15″N 5°22′00″W	Cultural:MorMedinaofTet (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.[47]
Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City: a Shared Heritage		MorRabat,  Morocco 34°01′27″N 6°49′22″W	Cultural:MorRab (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.[48]
Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida)		MorCasablanca-Settat,  Morocco 33°15′24″N 8°30′07″W	Cultural:MorPor (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.[49]
Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman		OmnDakhiliyah, Sharqiyah and Batinah Regions,  Oman 22°59′56″N 57°32′10″E	Cultural:OmnAfl (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.[50]
Ancient City of Qalhat		OmnAsh Sharqiyah South Governorate,  Oman 22°42′N 59°22′E	Cultural:OmnQal (ii)(iii)	75.82 (187.4)	2018	[51]
Archaeological Sites of Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn		OmnAd Dhahirah Region,  Oman 23°16′11″N 56°44′42″E	Cultural:OmnArc (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.[52]
Bahla Fort		OmnAd Dakhiliyah Region,  Oman 22°57′51″N 57°18′04″E	Cultural:OmnBah (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.[53]
Land of Frankincense		OmnDhofar Governorate,  Oman 18°15′12″N 53°38′51″E	Cultural:OmnLan (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.[54]
Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls		JerEast Jerusalem 31°46′00″N 35°13′00″E	Cultural:JerOld (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.[55]
Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem		PalBethlehem Governorate,  Palestine 31°42′16″N 35°12′27″E	Cultural:PalBir (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.[56][57]
Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines — Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir		PalBethlehem Governorate,  Palestine 31°43′11″N 35°07′50″E	Cultural:PalPal (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.[58]
Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town		PalHebron Governorate,  Palestine 31°31′30″N 35°06′30″E	Cultural:PalPal (ii)(iv)(vi)	20.6 (51)	2017	The centre of interest of the town was the site of Al mosque -Ibrahim / 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.[59]
Al Zubarah Archaeological Site		QatAl Shamal,  Qatar 25°58′41″N 51°01′47″E	Cultural:QatAlz (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.[60]
Al-Hasa		SauHofuf, Al-Ahsa Governorate  Saudi Arabia 25°25′46″N 49°37′19″E	Cultural:SauAlh (iii)(iv)(v)	8,544 (21,110)	2018	[61]
Al-Hijr Archaeological Site (Madâin Sâlih)		SauAl Madinah Province,  Saudi Arabia 26°47′01″N 37°57′18″E	Cultural:SauAlh (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.[62]
At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah		SauRiyadh Province,  Saudi Arabia 24°44′03″N 46°34′21″E	Cultural:SauAtt (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.[63]
Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah		SauMakkah Region,  Saudi Arabia 21°29′02″N 39°11′15″E	Cultural:SauHis (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.[64]
Rock Art in the Ha'il Region		SauHa'il Region,  Saudi Arabia 28°00′38″N 40°54′47″E	Cultural:SauRoc (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.[65]
Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe		SdnRiver Nile State,  Sudan 16°56′00″N 33°43′00″E	Cultural:SdnArc (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.[66]
Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region		SdnNorthern State,  Sudan 18°32′00″N 31°49′00″E	Cultural:SdnGeb (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.[67]
Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island Marine National Park		Sdn Sudan 19°44′10″N 37°26′35″E	Natural:SdnSan (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.[68]
Ancient City of Aleppo		SyrAleppo Governorate,  Syria 36°14′00″N 37°10′00″E	Cultural:SyrAncAle (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.[69]
Ancient City of Bosra		SyrDaraa Governorate,  Syria 32°31′05″N 36°28′54″E	Cultural:SyrAncBos (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.[70]
Ancient City of Damascus		SyrDamascus Governorate,  Syria 33°30′41″N 36°18′23″E	Cultural:SyrAncDam (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.[71]
Ancient Villages of Northern Syria		Syr Syria 36°20′03″N 36°50′39″E	Cultural:SyrAncVil (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.[72]
Crac des Chevaliers and Qal'at Salah El-Din		SyrHoms and Latakia Governorates,  Syria 34°46′54″N 36°15′47″E	Cultural:SyrCra (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.[73]
Site of Palmyra		SyrHoms Governorate,  Syria 34°33′15″N 38°16′00″E	Cultural:SyrSit (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.[74]
Archaeological Site of Carthage		TunTunis Governorate,  Tunisia 36°51′10″N 10°19′24″E	Cultural:TunArc (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.[75]
Dougga / Thugga		TunBeBéja Governorate,  Tunisia 36°25′25″N 9°13′13″E	Cultural:TunDou (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.[76]
Amphitheatre of El Jem		TunMahdia Governorate,  Tunisia 35°17′47″N 10°42′25″E	Cultural:TunEld (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.[77]
Ichkeul National Park		TunBiBizerte Governorate,  Tunisia 37°09′49″N 9°40′29″E	Natural:TunIch (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.[78]
Kairouan		TunKairouan Governorate,  Tunisia 35°40′54″N 10°06′14″E	Cultural:TunKai (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.[79]
Medina of Sousse		TunSousse Governorate,  Tunisia 35°49′40″N 10°38′19″E	Cultural:TunMedinaofSou (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.[80]
Medina of Tunis		TunTunis Governorate,  Tunisia 36°49′00″N 10°10′00″E	Cultural:TunMedinaofTun (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.[81]
Punic Town of Kerkuane and its Necropolis		TunNabeul Governorate,  Tunisia 36°56′47″N 11°05′57″E	Cultural:TunPun (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.[82]
Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas)		UaeAbu Dhabi,  United Arab Emirates 24°04′04″N 55°48′23″E	Cultural:UaeCul (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.[83]
Historic Town of Zabid		YemAl Hudaydah Governorate,  Yemen 14°11′53″N 43°19′48″E	Cultural:YemHis (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.[84]
Old City of Sana'a		YemSana'a Governorate,  Yemen 15°21′20″N 44°12′29″E	Cultural:YemOldSan (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.[85]
Old Walled City of Shibam		YemHadhramaut Governorate,  Yemen 15°55′37″N 48°37′36″E	Cultural:YemOldShi (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".[86]
Socotra Archipelago		YemSocotra Governorate,  Yemen 12°30′00″N 53°50′00″E	Natural:YemSoc (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.[87]

• List of World Heritage Sites in Africa
• List of World Heritage Sites in Western Asia
• Destruction of cultural heritage by ISIL

• UNESCO World Heritage Centre – Official site
• List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Official site
• VRheritage.org – documentation of World Heritage Sites
• Worldheritage-Forum – Information and Weblog on World Heritage Issues