ARC-WH was established in 2012 as an initiative from the Kingdom of Bahrain to serve 19 Arab State Parties and to work closely with UNESCO to strengthen the implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention; an agreement dedicated to protecting and promoting the cultural and natural heritage of all the nations of the world.
ARC-WH takes an integrated approach to safeguarding the region’s unique heritage. In addition to reinforcing the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in the Arab States, ARC-WH is committed to raising public awareness of cultural and natural heritage in the region and reaching out to Arab youth to support the Convention. ARC-WH also plays a role in supporting UNESCO in its efforts to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in alignment with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
As we look to the future of heritage conservation and management, ARC-WH aims to be at the forefront of these efforts, orienting its capacities as a Category 2 Centre towards the safeguarding of the region’s exceptional World Heritage and supporting sustainable development; addressing the issues of climate change and ensuring the wellbeing of local communities.
ARC-WH invites you to explore the resources of this website and join us in bringing together the Arab world in solidarity to protect our rich Arab heritage for generations to come.
Chairperson of the Governing Board of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH)
The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH), based in the Kingdom of Bahrain, was established in 2012 to ensure heritage sites are identified, protected, monitored, and sustainably managed in the Arab States. ARC WH is a category 2 Centre under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and serves the 19 Arab States towards the promotion and management of cultural and natural sites, by providing technical support and reinforcing the implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention.
The Governing Board is Chaired by the President of Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Kingdom of Bahrain) and consists of the following Board Members: a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kingdom of Bahrain), a representative of each of the Member States from the Arab States region serving as members of the World Heritage Committee, a representative of the UNESCO Director-General, a representative of each of the Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee .i.e. ICOMOS, IUCN and ICCROM, and a representative from the African World Heritage Fund.
To protect the cultural and natural heritage of the 19 Arab States by providing knowledge and technical assistance that supports the effective implementation of the World Heritage Convention in the Arab region.