Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib

Significance

UNESCO describes the property as a serial property of seven archaeological sites in Marib Governorate, central Yemen, that bear witness to the Kingdom of Saba, dating from the 1st millennium BCE to the arrival of Islam around 630 CE. The components include the walled city of Ma'rib, the fortified city of Sirwah, temples at Awam and Bar'an, and the Ma'rib dam and irrigation system, which UNESCO describes as the largest ancient man-made oasis. UNESCO's news item says the sites reflect the Kingdom's centralised administration, its control of much of the incense route and its trade links with the Mediterranean and East Africa. It was inscribed in January 2023 under criteria (iii) and (iv) through the Committee's emergency procedure, and placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at the same session.

Current Status Rationale

Historical damage is documented in the site's record, but the current classification is based on present conditions and the most recent credible evidence. The 2015 and 2018 attacks are recorded in events[] and are not themselves the basis for the present status. The present picture is of a World Heritage property that has been on the List of World Heritage in Danger since its inscription in January 2023, where the Committee has repeatedly asked for a monitoring mission that has not been possible, where the Committee said in 2025 and 2026 it lacks detailed, comprehensive information about the property's condition, where ICOMOS and the State Party report very poor fabric, looting, quarrying and no available conservation funding, and where renewed fighting in Marib Governorate was reported in August and September 2026 (the most recent article read is dated 20 September 2026). Against that, the evidence also shows that national authorities continue to monitor and report, that the State Party reports no encroachment within the boundaries since inscription, that the Committee in 2026 commended the State Party's efforts, that the State Party has reported most Marib Oasis sites to be in a better security situation, and that none of the five 2026 conflict reports reviewed mentions damage to the heritage components. The call therefore rests mainly on the unverifiable current condition and sustained lack of access for international monitoring, in a setting of renewed nearby fighting, rather than on documented new destruction. Confidence is Supported rather than Confirmed: the inaccessibility and the Committee's statements are drawn from UNESCO decisions and reports, but the 2025 and 2026 state of conservation reports could not be read, the 2026 conflict reporting is from news outlets and partly from government-side military sources, the location of fighting relative to the components is not established, and the security situation is changing. Confidence does not alter the status.

Severe, currently active threats to the site's survival are documented by credible sources. Credible sources support this status, with some limits on corroboration.

Threat Categories

Historical Timeline

1. 2015-04/2015-05
   Reports of bombardment and damage at Sirwah

   A 2017 article by Lamya Khalidi in the International Journal of Middle East Studies states that the archaeological site of Sirwah was bombarded by the Saudi-led coalition in April and May 2015. National Geographic reported on 3 June 2015 that Yemeni sources told Iris Gerlach, director of the German Archaeological Institute's Sanaa Branch, that Sirwah had sustained considerable damage in recent fighting because of its proximity to the local governor's palace, and noted that communication shutdowns made independent confirmation difficult. Sirwah is now a component of the inscribed property.

   Sources: National Geographic, International Journal of Middle East Studies, Cambridge University Press

2. 2015-05-31
   Airstrike damages the northern sluice of the ancient Marib dam

   ICCROM reported that an airstrike on the night of 31 May 2015 damaged the Great Dam of Marib, that ancient Sabaean inscriptions on the dam walls may have been affected, and that UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova condemned the airstrikes. National Geographic reported that Gerlach relayed reports from sources close to local Marib leadership that the strike hit the better-preserved northern sluice, with images showing damage to its tower about 7 metres (23 feet) high; Yemeni officials said coalition forces were responsible, and the Saudi embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment. A 2022 National Geographic feature by Iona Craig describes the strike as having hit a sluice gate and torn through the remaining tower, leaving a pile of rubble. ICOMOS's 2022 evaluation also cites an airstrike on the northern dam bank in 2015.

   Sources: ICOMOS (hosted by UNESCO World Heritage Centre), ICCROM, National Geographic, National Geographic

3. 2018
   Bombing at Sirwah cited by ICOMOS

   ICOMOS's 2022 evaluation cites bombing at Sirwah in 2018 among the deliberate or conflict-related damage to components. The date is given by year only in the evaluation as read, and the same evaluation reports Sirwah as occupied by militia at the time, leaving its management unclear.

   Sources: ICOMOS (hosted by UNESCO World Heritage Centre)

4. 2018-02-08
   Associated Press reports Awwam Temple neglected in a front-line area

   An Associated Press report described the Awwam Temple in Marib, which it called a front-line area in the Saudi-led war against Houthi rebels, as left neglected and unprotected. The report does not describe specific damage to the temple. Unnamed experts feared it remained at risk, and Anna Paolini, director of UNESCO's regional office in Qatar, was quoted saying 'it's sad to see what's happening'.

   Sources: Fox News (republishing Associated Press)

5. 2022-04-13
   ICOMOS approves evaluation of the emergency nomination

   ICOMOS approved its evaluation of the nomination on 13 April 2022; the State Party had submitted the nomination under the emergency procedure on 11 February 2022. ICOMOS could not carry out a technical evaluation mission because of safety and security conditions. It described the fabric as 'very poor', reported quarrying, pillaging and flash-flood damage, said conservation funding had not been available since 2015, and recommended inscription on an emergency basis under criteria (iii) and (iv) together with inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

   Sources: ICOMOS (hosted by UNESCO World Heritage Centre)

6. 2022-08-04
   National Geographic feature reports looting, sand reburial and proximity of the front line

   Iona Craig's National Geographic feature (September 2022 issue, published online 4 August 2022) reported that sand has reburied critical areas of the Awwam Temple, that a 2,300-year-old inscribed alabaster statue base was ripped from the floor and later appeared at a Paris auction house, and that a Houthi offensive had brought Marib city within range of rebel missiles. It quoted Sadeq al Salwi, Marib director of the General Organization of Antiquities and Museums: 'It's better that everything is under the ground. The sand is safety.'

   Sources: National Geographic

7. 2023-01
   Property inscribed on the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger

   At its 18th extraordinary session (listed by UNESCO as 24-25 January 2023; UNESCO's news item is dated 25 January 2023) the Committee inscribed the property under the emergency procedure, under criteria (iii) and (iv), and placed it on the List of World Heritage in Danger. UNESCO's news item gives threats of destruction from the ongoing conflict as the reason for the emergency procedure. The decision (18 EXT.COM 5.3) noted that a technical evaluation mission had not been possible, changed the property's name to 'Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib', and set out nine numbered recommendations (the Committee's later decisions reiterate, among them, halting the 2018 Master Plan pending a Heritage Impact Assessment) and asked the State Party to invite a Reactive Monitoring mission.

   Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, UNESCO World Heritage Centre

8. 2024-02-19
   State Party submits state of conservation report

   UNESCO records that the State Party submitted its report on 19 February 2024. It reports that unstable conditions and armed conflict prevent local authorities from carrying out field inspections and projects, with Sirwah a particular obstacle, while most sites in the Marib Oasis are in a better security situation and suitable for projects; that increased damage is occurring because the property has no fences; that no encroachment has occurred within the boundaries since inscription; and that funding, training and skilled personnel are lacking, with zero international assistance requests approved to date.

   Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre

9. 2024
   World Heritage Committee decision 46 COM 7A.34 on Marib

   The Committee welcomed the State Party's informative report on damage and challenges, requested implementation of the inscription-time recommendations, encouraged detailed damage documentation when conditions allow, said urgent stabilisation should be limited to cases where collapse or further damage is imminent, welcomed the invitation of a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission once conditions allow, called for international support including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund, retained the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger and asked for an updated report by 1 February 2025.

   Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre

10. 2025
    World Heritage Committee decision 47 COM 7A.55 on Marib

    The Committee expressed concern about the lack of detailed, comprehensive information on the property's state of conservation, reiterated the inscription-time requests, again called for a joint Reactive Monitoring mission once conditions allow (to advise on a Desired state of conservation for removal from the Danger List), appealed for cooperation against illicit trafficking of cultural property from Yemen, retained the property on the Danger List and asked for an updated report by 1 February 2026.

    Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre

11. 2026
    World Heritage Committee decision 48 COM 7A.20 on Marib

    At its 48th session (Busan) the Committee commended the State Party's recent efforts to preserve and monitor the property in a challenging context, again expressed concern about the lack of detailed, comprehensive information on its state of conservation, reiterated its earlier requests, again called for a Reactive Monitoring mission once conditions allow, retained the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger, and asked for an updated report by 1 February 2027 for the 49th session. The month of the decision was not confirmed in this pass.

    Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, UNESCO World Heritage Centre

12. 2026-08-08
    Renewed shelling of Marib city reported

    Al Jazeera reported on 8 August 2026 that government forces launched attacks on Houthi positions hours after the Houthis renewed shelling of Marib city. It reported that on the Friday an attack on Marib killed two civilians and wounded 14, according to Yemen's Health Ministry, and that the Houthis said they targeted a military camp on the city's outskirts; Deputy Information Minister Mohammed Gezan said the Houthis had resumed shelling civilian neighbourhoods. The article does not mention any heritage site.

    Sources: Al Jazeera

13. 2026-08-16
    Further attacks on Marib city reported

    Al Jazeera reported on 16 August 2026 that the Houthis launched missile and drone strikes on Marib city (on the Saturday evening, 15 August) and al-Makha (on the Sunday). Marib's government media office said six ballistic missiles and four drones hit residential neighbourhoods, wounding four people, and the Yemeni military said it carried out 181 operations against Houthi positions across several governorates over the weekend. These are the accounts of the parties named in the article; it does not mention any heritage site.

    Sources: Al Jazeera

14. 2026-09
    Fighting reported on fronts in Marib Governorate

    Al Jazeera reported on 10 September 2026 that, over recent weeks, pro-government forces had attacked Houthi-held areas in Marib and al-Jawf and the Houthis had retaliated, and cited aid agencies as saying at least 194 people were killed and 880 wounded in two weeks of fighting across Taiz, the western coast, al-Jawf, Marib and Dhalea (a total for several governorates, not Marib alone). Arab News reported on 19 September 2026, citing unnamed government-side military sources, that government forces advanced on the Al-Mashjah front west of Marib city and that airstrikes reportedly hit Houthi forces on southern fronts; the report carried no Houthi response or independent verification. Neither article mentions the heritage components. Arab News reported on 20 September 2026 that the Yemeni army's military media director said more than 80 Houthi fighters were killed in 24 hours of fighting at Hareb, Mala'a and Um Raish, south of Marib city; the article presents these as the army's unverified claims and does not mention heritage components.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Arab News, Arab News

Digital Preservation Index

Overall coverage: Moderate — Documented in several categories, with some notable gaps.

Two of five categories have publicly findable evidence (photographic and academic/scholarly), which gives the moderate tier by the rubric (two to three categories). Coverage is thin: the UNESCO photo gallery holds only ten images and the Smithsonian page offers a small selection of historic excavation photographs. Archival records are marked false: UNESCO's documents page hosts the nomination dossier, ICOMOS evaluation and state of conservation material, but these are UNESCO process documents rather than a digitised archive of the site, and no dedicated digitised archive (for example excavation records) was located. No publicly viewable 3D model was verified: a 2007 peer-reviewed paper describes a photogrammetry and laser-scanning model of the northern sluice of the ancient dam made in January 2006, and the Smithsonian page says an international excavation team at the Awam Temple produced digital topographic plans and 3D models, but neither source indicates the models are publicly viewable, so 3D documentation is marked false rather than assumed. No virtual tour or 360-degree presentation was found. ICOMOS (2022) notes that most sites are unexcavated or only slightly excavated ('an estimated ten percent'), which limits what has been documented. The Madain Project page, a volunteer-run, ad-supported site, was opened but not counted because it is not an authoritative source. A reviewer may wish to re-check for DAI or other excavation archives that were not located in this pass.

• Photographic

  UNESCO's World Heritage Centre hosts a public photo gallery for the property with 10 images, credited to Ebrahim Abdallah (4), Amr Alsrori (3), Irmgard Wagner (2) and the Deutsches Archaeologisches Institut (1).

  View source
• Photographic

  The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art online exhibition page on the Awam Temple includes a small gallery of historic photographs of the Wendell Phillips-era and later excavations at Marib.

  View source
• Academic Scholarly

  Peer-reviewed article by Thomas Kersten (International Journal of Architectural Computing, 2007) on a virtual reality model of the northern sluice of the ancient dam made by combining photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning during January 2006 excavations, a collaboration between the German Archaeological Institute and HafenCity University Hamburg. The record read does not indicate that the model itself is publicly viewable.

  View source

Law and commitments

• Treaty record for Yemen