World Heritage Identification Number: 192
World Heritage since: 1982
Category: Cultural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: Yes
Country: 🇾🇪 Yemen
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Arab States
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The Vertical Metropolis of the Desert: A Journey Through the Old Walled City of Shibam
The Old Walled City of Shibam, nestled within the rugged terrain of Wadi Hadhramaut in eastern Yemen, stands as a testament to human ingenuity and resilience. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, this ancient urban center offers a unique blend of architectural prowess, cultural richness, and historical significance that continues to captivate visitors from around the globe.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Surrounded by a fortified wall, the 16th-century city of Shibam is one of the oldest and best examples of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction. Its impressive tower-like structures rise out of the cliff and have given the city the nickname of ‘the Manhattan of the desert’.
Encyclopedia Record: Shibam
Shibam, officially the Old Walled City of Shibam, is a town in Wadi Hadhramaut in eastern Yemen with about 7,000 inhabitants. It is the seat of the Shibam District in the Hadhramaut Governorate. It is known for its mudbrick-made high-rise buildings, with some of the buildings reaching as high as 11 stories. The design centred around protecting the residents of the city from Bedouin attacks.Additional Site Details
Area: Not available
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
(v) — Outstanding example of traditional human settlement
Coordinates: 15.92694 , 48.62667
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© Bkar6190, CC BY-SA 4.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
