عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

Yemen’s Historic Zabid Becomes Latest Casualty of Houthis

A view of the historic city of Zabid in the Hodeidah province. (Local media)
A view of the historic city of Zabid in the Hodeidah province. (Local media)
TT
TT

Yemen’s Historic Zabid Becomes Latest Casualty of Houthis

A view of the historic city of Zabid in the Hodeidah province. (Local media)
A view of the historic city of Zabid in the Hodeidah province. (Local media)

Despite being declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Yemeni city of Zabid is facing increased danger due to neglect of the Iran-backed Houthi militias, who run the historic town.

The Houthis have failed to protect and preserve all heritage sites in areas under their control, as seen with the damage to Old Sanaa’s architecture and the risk of further destruction and artifact trafficking.

Recently, heavy rains caused the northern part of the old market’s roof in Zabid, a city in western Hodeidah province, to collapse. Residents have closed off the area to prevent further damage and potential collapses.

Last week, residents of Zabid reported serious damage to the northern part of a historic corridor to local authorities and the Houthi-controlled Historic Cities Preservation Authority, but no significant action has been taken.

Residents have also asked UNESCO to step in and help save the city’s landmarks from being removed from the World Heritage List.

Four years ago, heavy rains caused several archaeological sites to collapse and damaged many homes in Zabid. Cultural activists have called on the UN to protect the city from further harm.

Zabid, which was Yemen’s capital in the 13th to 15th centuries, was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993 but was moved to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2000 due to construction violations and damage to its historic sites.

The city was a major intellectual hub in the Islamic world, with 85 Islamic schools representing various religious and philosophical traditions.

Many of these schools still exist and house rare manuscripts and important texts. The city also features historic sites and symbols that highlight its former prominence in the region.

UNESCO plans to restore 400 historic homes in four Yemeni cities this year, with 100 homes in each city: Old Sanaa, Aden, Zabid, and Shibam Hadramawt, according to Khaled Salah, Director of UNESCO’s Gulf States and Yemen office.

Salah revealed discussions with the UN Office for Project Services about urgent sanitation upgrades in Old Sanaa. The outdated sewage system poses a risk of collapse due to unstable ground beneath the homes.

UNESCO is working to encourage donors to increase support for Yemen, focusing on expanding development projects and preserving cultural and historic sites.

Most Viewed

 
 
Culture

Jazan Festival 2026 Kicks Off Thursday with Grand Parade

his year’s festival offers an unprecedented experience that brings together the charm of the region’s unique geographic diversity - SPA
his year’s festival offers an unprecedented experience that brings together the charm of the region’s unique geographic diversity - SPA
TT
TT

Jazan Festival 2026 Kicks Off Thursday with Grand Parade

his year’s festival offers an unprecedented experience that brings together the charm of the region’s unique geographic diversity - SPA
his year’s festival offers an unprecedented experience that brings together the charm of the region’s unique geographic diversity - SPA

The Jazan Festival 2026 will launch on Thursday in a carnival anticipated by thousands of visitors from within the region and beyond.

The festival will open with a grand celebratory parade starting at 3:45 p.m. along the Jazan city waterfront, signaling the start of an entertainment and cultural season that will extend for several months, according to SPA.

This year’s festival offers an unprecedented experience that brings together the charm of the region’s unique geographic diversity, from its towering green mountains and golden beaches to its picturesque islands, alongside the authenticity of its rich heritage, complemented by modern touches in entertainment programs designed to meet the aspirations of all age groups.

Performing arts inspired by local folklore will add an authentic dimension, while moving installations will flow in harmonious rhythm.

Completing the visual spectacle, integrated light and sound shows will create an enchanting atmosphere before the festivities conclude with a dazzling fireworks display lighting up the Jazan sky in vibrant colors.

Culture

UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures Hosts Lectures on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage

The program was presented as an advanced knowledge initiative that combined theoretical perspectives with practical application - SPA
The program was presented as an advanced knowledge initiative that combined theoretical perspectives with practical application - SPA
TT
TT

UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures Hosts Lectures on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage

The program was presented as an advanced knowledge initiative that combined theoretical perspectives with practical application - SPA
The program was presented as an advanced knowledge initiative that combined theoretical perspectives with practical application - SPA

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair in Translating Cultures at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS), with support from the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, organized a training course and a series of specialized lectures on the translation and safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, SPA reported.

The program was presented as an advanced knowledge initiative that combined theoretical perspectives with practical application, opening space for in-depth discussion of the challenges of translating intangible heritage as a living, evolving form of culture closely tied to its cultural, social, and performative contexts.

The course and lectures adopted a comprehensive approach that views translation as a cultural tool for preserving oral memory and building bridges between local specificity and the global sphere.

This approach was reflected through applied models, field experiences, and contemporary conceptual frameworks.

Culture

Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh’s Boat Is Being Reassembled in Public at Grand Egyptian Museum

People walk next to King Khufu's boat gem, also known as the Solar Boat, as work to restore the second solar boat has started with wooden planks part of the 1,650-piece structure being installed on a metal frame through Egyptian-Japanese cooperation with two Japanese universities, marking the start of preparations for the second boat's public display at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), near the Giza Pyramid Complex, in Giza, Egypt, December 23, 2025.
People walk next to King Khufu's boat gem, also known as the Solar Boat, as work to restore the second solar boat has started with wooden planks part of the 1,650-piece structure being installed on a metal frame through Egyptian-Japanese cooperation with two Japanese universities, marking the start of preparations for the second boat's public display at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), near the Giza Pyramid Complex, in Giza, Egypt, December 23, 2025.
TT
TT

Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh’s Boat Is Being Reassembled in Public at Grand Egyptian Museum

People walk next to King Khufu's boat gem, also known as the Solar Boat, as work to restore the second solar boat has started with wooden planks part of the 1,650-piece structure being installed on a metal frame through Egyptian-Japanese cooperation with two Japanese universities, marking the start of preparations for the second boat's public display at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), near the Giza Pyramid Complex, in Giza, Egypt, December 23, 2025.
People walk next to King Khufu's boat gem, also known as the Solar Boat, as work to restore the second solar boat has started with wooden planks part of the 1,650-piece structure being installed on a metal frame through Egyptian-Japanese cooperation with two Japanese universities, marking the start of preparations for the second boat's public display at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), near the Giza Pyramid Complex, in Giza, Egypt, December 23, 2025.

A boat belonging to an Egyptian pharaoh is being assembled in full view at the Grand Egyptian Museum’s exhibition hall.

Staff began piecing together the cedarwood boat, one of two that were found that belong to King Khufu, Tuesday morning as dozens of visitors watched.

The assembly of the 42-meter (137-foot) -long vessel, which sits next to its already-assembled twin that has been on display, is expected to take around four years, according to Issa Zeidan, head of restoration at the Grand Egyptian Museum. It contains 1,650 wooden pieces.

King Khufu ruled ancient Egypt more than 4,500 years ago and built the Great Pyramid of Giza.

“You’re witnessing today one of the most important restoration projects in the 21st century,” said Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy, who attended the event.

The $1 billion museum, also known as GEM, was touted as the world’s largest when it was lavishly inaugurated last month. It's home to nearly 50,000 artifacts, including the collection of treasures from the tomb of the famed King Tutankhamun, which was discovered in 1922. The museum, located near the pyramids at the edge of Cairo, is expected to boost Egypt’s tourism revenues and help bolster its economy.

The boat was one of two discovered in 1954, opposite the southern side of the Great Pyramid. The excavation of its wooden parts began in 2014, according to the museum’s website.

The exact purpose of the boats remains unclear, but experts believe they were either used to transport King Khufu’s body during his funeral or were meant to be used for his afterlife journey with the sun god Ra, according to the museum.