World Heritage Day Accompanies Qatar's Leadership in the Field

The celebration of the World Heritage Day, which falls on the 18th of April of each year, is an international occasion to highlight the excellence of the global and human cultural heritage, in which the countries of the world abound in richness, diversity, and originality, and this occasion comes this year to keep pace with the leadership of the State of Qatar globally and locally in the field of heritage preservation.

The tireless efforts of Qatari institutions have won the respect of international institutions specialized in cultural affairs and recognition of the prominent role of the State of Qatar in preserving heritage, and culminated in its election as a member of the World Heritage Committee for the period 2021-2025, during the General Assembly of the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention of 1972, which was held during Forty-first session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

On this occasion, officials and experts confirmed in exclusive statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the efforts of the State of Qatar have become evident in protecting its tangible heritage and cultural fabric, which reflects its renaissance in the field of museums and cultural development, in addition to its efforts at the international level to protect human heritage through Partnerships with UNESCO.

His Excellency Dr. Nasser bin Hamad Al-Hanzab, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), spoke in an exclusive statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) about the efforts of the State of Qatar and its role in safeguarding Qatari and world heritage, on the occasion of World Heritage Day.

He explained that the State of Qatar has made culture and heritage one of the main foundations of national policies in developing and promoting creativity in highlighting the national heritage, as Qatar Museums embraces, protects, cares and preserves the national heritage, enhances the role of heritage and put it in its historical and civil context.

On the efforts to register the Qatari heritage on the UNESCO list of human heritage, His Excellency Dr. Nasser bin Hamad Al-Hanzab said: "The State of Qatar is making international and national efforts to promote the national heritage and put it on the global map of the cultural heritage of nations.

In 2013, the city of Al Zubarah was inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, and it is one of the most important archaeological sites in the country and the region, which was the largest city in the Arabian Gulf for fishing and pearl trade in the period between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The announcement of the city’s inclusion in the World Heritage List is the first inclusion of a Qatari archaeological site in the World Heritage List, under the supervision of Qatar Museums to develop and preserve the archaeological site in a way that contributes to supporting cultural and archaeological tourism in the State of Qatar.