Petra
Petra - Jordan

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

Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH)

Capacity-Building Programme on Improving Management Effectiveness of World Heritage Properties launched in the Arab States Region

On 30 June, the first phase of the “Capacity Building Programme on Improving Management Effectiveness of World Heritage Properties in the Arab States Region” kicked off.

ARCWH Call for applications

Call for applications: Capacity-building programme on improving management effectiveness of World Heritage properties in the Arab States region

The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) and the ICCROM-IUCN World Heritage Leadership (WHL) programme are seeking World Heritage Management Teams to join the regional capacity-building programme on “Improving Management Effectiveness of World Heritage Properties in the Arab States Region”, which will be held in three phases from June to November 2024.

ICCROM Sharjah Awards: Deadline extended for receiving nominations

The deadline to submit a project to be considered for the ICCROM Sharjah Award for Good Practices in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management in the Arab Region has been extended to 1 June 2024.
Disaster Risk Management for World Heritage course in Saudi Arabia ICCROM IUCN

Integrating disaster risk and climate action for World Heritage in the Gulf

In partnership with the Heritage Commission of the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we provided a regional capacity-building workshop on disaster risk management (DRM) and building resilience for World Heritage, with a special focus on the Gulf. Course participants analyzed DRM’s role in effective heritage management and reflected on climate-change related threats and how...

ICOMOS Guidance to recover heritage after catastrophes publication 2023

Renowned cultural heritage institutions ICCROM and ICOMOS address urgent need for accessible conservation resources

ICCROM, through our Regional Centre in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates, has joined forces with the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) to release two critical new resources covering cultural heritage recovery and international policymaking.

Welcoming His Excellency Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi from the UAE at ICCROM HQ

Welcoming His Excellency Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi from the UAE at ICCROM HQ

On Tuesday, 13 February 2024, we had the privilege of hosting His Excellency Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Executive Chairman of the Department of Government Relations, the Executive Council of the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, at ICCROM headquarters in Rome. Leveraging heritage for good, including initiatives to enhance well-being and use innovative technologies for...

New publication gathers Arabic translations of major cultural heritage conservation charters

This resource has been published as part of a collaboration between the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the Regional Office for Cultural Heritage Preservation in the Arab Region (ICCROM-Sharjah). The collaboration is supported by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, ruler of Sharjah and member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates. This collaboration aligns with ICCROM-Sharjah’s mission to assist Member States in the Arab region to conserve cultural heritage.
Highlighting the key milestones of the ICCROM-UNESCO Capacity Building for Holistic, Sustainable, and Resilient Recovery of Mosul

Highlighting the key milestones of the ICCROM-UNESCO Capacity Building for Holistic, Sustainable, and Resilient Recovery of Mosul

The extensive journey of the ICCROM-UNESCO Capacity Building for Holistic, Sustainable, and Resilient Recovery of Mosul recently concluded after nearly three years of preparation and conducting various capacity-building activities in Mosul. This unique programme emerged under UNESCO’s broader initiative, "Revive the Spirit of Mosul," forming a successful partnership involving national and...

Arabic Language Day celebrations: ICCROM highlights cultural heritage publications

Arabic Language Day celebrations: ICCROM highlights cultural heritage publications

Language is an important part of our intangible heritage. Every year on 18 December, the international community celebrates Arabic Language Day in honour of the culturally rich and poetic language spoken by more than 400 million people every day. This year is even more special – it marks 50 years since Arabic was made an official United Nations language!

National Museum of Oman project

Conserving and rehabilitating historic homes in Oman

Today, we celebrate 20 years of Oman being an ICCROM Member State! We take this opportunity to share updates on a rewarding project between ICCROM and the National Museum of Oman to restore historic homes in the capital city, Muscat.