On 31 January 2022, ARC-WH was invited to present the partnership project entitled ‘Emergency Restoration Programme for Damaged Buildings in the World Heritage Site of the Old Walled City of Shibam’ located in the Republic of Yemen. The project has been generously funded by the ALIPH Foundation and implemented in close partnership with local partners such as the General Organisation for the Preservation of Historic Cities in Yemen (GOPHCY- Shibam Branch). The project partnership directly focuses on safeguarding the OUV by restoring 15 historic buildings through the active job creation for local craftsmen who apply their traditional restoration expertise to allow the local families to return to their homes and counteract their migration and resulting neglect.

Out of 15 historic buildings, the restoration works of seven are already complete, and the works have started for the following five.