47 New Icons Of History: UNESCO’s Latest World Heritage List Announced

News Desk

Riyadh: The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has finalised the addition of 47 new sites to its World Heritage List, where member states nominated 50 natural, cultural and mixed sites.

During the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh from September 10-25, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve was officially added to the World Heritage List as well.

The committee postponed the addition of one of the sites, rejected another site and approved the extension of five other World Heritage sites, according to UNESCO.

The new additions included two Arab sites besides the Saudi reserve; Palestine’s Ancient Jericho and Tunisia’s Djerba Island.

Presiding over the session, Mohlago Flora Mokgohloa of South Africa said that we feel inspired by all the developments we see in the Kingdom. These are big steps towards expanding biodiversity and environmental preservation, she added. AFP/APP