CultureBackground

Old City of Shibam added to UNESCO World Heritage List

UNESCO inscribed the walled city of Shibam in Yemen's Hadramawt, known for its mud-brick tower houses, as a World Heritage Site in 1982.

9 Nov 2026, 08:341 min read

This summary was written by AI to complete the context; it is not based on a current source.

In December 1982, UNESCO, the UN's culture and heritage agency, added the Old Walled City of Shibam to its World Heritage List. The town lies in Hadramawt, a valley region of eastern Yemen, and was recognised as an outstanding example of traditional urban planning.

Shibam is known for its dense cluster of tower houses made of sun-dried mud brick. Many rise five to eleven storeys, and the tallest reach about 30 metres. Most of the surviving buildings date from the 16th century, when the city was rebuilt after severe flooding. The tall, closely packed design is generally explained by the need for protection from flooding and from raids, on a rocky rise above the wadi, or seasonal river valley. Its skyline later earned it the nickname "Manhattan of the desert".

The listing mattered because mud-brick buildings need constant upkeep and are vulnerable to rain, floods and neglect. Inscription brought international attention and support for conservation work. In later years, conflict and weather damage in Yemen raised concerns about the site's condition, and it was also placed on UNESCO's list of World Heritage in Danger.