UNESCO, EU Restore Historic Houses in Four Yemeni Cities

"Some of the homes in Old Sanaa after restoration (General Organization for the Preservation of the Historic Cities of Yemen)
"Some of the homes in Old Sanaa after restoration (General Organization for the Preservation of the Historic Cities of Yemen)
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UNESCO, EU Restore Historic Houses in Four Yemeni Cities

"Some of the homes in Old Sanaa after restoration (General Organization for the Preservation of the Historic Cities of Yemen)
"Some of the homes in Old Sanaa after restoration (General Organization for the Preservation of the Historic Cities of Yemen)

In partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Yemen’s Social Fund for Development has restored hundreds of damaged historic houses and landmarks in the cities of Shibam, old Sanaa, Zabid and Aden.

Funded by the European Union, the restoration project aims at preserving the Yemeni heritage and creating job opportunities for young Yemenis.

In addition to houses restoration, the project also seeks the rehabilitation of the sewage network that requires an urgent intervention in old Sanaa.

Local sources reported that UNESCO is urging donors to increase their funds for Yemen in 2024 to expand the development and culture projects and preserve heritage, landmarks and historic cities.

According to UNESCOS’s General Authority for the Preservation of Historic Cities, the historic city of Zabid, listed as a UNESCO Human Heritage, is among the most damaged in the country. It embraces 12,000 buildings, including 4962 ancient houses that have been violated or destroyed. Part of Al Hodeidah governorate, Zabid features 27 schools and 86 historic mosques as well.

Data also show that many landmarks in the historic city collapsed, while there are 46 damaged buildings that require a quick intervention to save them from collapse. Some of these buildings are over 600 years old.

 

In addition to preserving historic buildings, the project focuses on the social aspects by integrating the younger Yemenis in the restoration process. It also aims at creating jobs for 8,000 young men and women.

The project offers training and funds for the organizations active in the cultural field. Young Yemenis are taking part in restoring and rehabilitating over 500 historic buildings in three endangered World Heritage sites in Sanaa, Shibam and Zabid, as part of the awareness campaigns promoting the importance of protecting the Yemeni heritage.



Jeddah to Host Makkah Int’l Conference on Arabic Language, Literature Next Month

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Jeddah to Host Makkah Int’l Conference on Arabic Language, Literature Next Month

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

The sixth annual Makkah International Conference on Arabic Language and Literature, themed "Arabic Language and the Challenges of Digitization," will take place January 3-5, 2025 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Jeddah Al Salam.
Organized under the umbrella of the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority (SCEGA), the event will bring together academics, researchers, and graduate students from 17 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Algeria, Chad, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the UK, and Italy.
The head of the conference organizing committee, Dr. Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al-Zahrani, highlighted the conference's objectives, including fostering communication among Arabic language specialists, exchanging expertise, and showcasing the latest scientific research in Arabic studies and digital applications. The conference also aims to enhance cultural pride in Arabic, the language of the Holy Quran, while spotlighting efforts by individuals and institutions in advancing Arabic learning both physically and virtually.
The three-day conference will feature 10 scientific sessions with 40 peer-reviewed research papers, exploring various aspects of Arabic language and literature. Additionally, 10 scientific posters will showcase research projects, initiatives, and successful experiences. A special training workshop titled “AI Applications in the Arabic Language” will also be held, focusing on modern technological tools and their role in advancing Arabic education.
The conference serves as a platform to bridge traditional Arabic studies with modern digital innovations, reflecting the evolving landscape of Arabic language teaching and research.