Three Qatari sites added to ISESCO Heritage List

By A Robin - September 19, 2021

Barzan Towers

Qatar Museums announced today the inclusion of three additional Qatari heritage sites in the ISESCO Heritage List. This inscription came during the ninth meeting of the Islamic World Heritage Committee (IWHC) in the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), convened virtually on June 29, 2021.

The IWHC decided to inscribe 97 new historical sites and cultural elements on the ISESCO Islamic World Heritage List, including three Qatari archaeological sites: Al Rakyat Fort, Barzan Towers and Al Khulaifi Heritage House.

Three Qatari sites inscribed on ISESCO Islamic World Heritage List. #QNA pic.twitter.com/Ive8pZ86tO
— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) September 19, 2021

On this occasion, H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, said: “We are pleased to see more Qatari heritage sites on the ISESCO Heritage List. This new achievement contributes to the promotion of Qatar’s rich cultural heritage across the world, and enhances cultural tourism in the country. We thank everyone who contributed to this achievement.”
Commenting on this remarkable achievement, Ahmad Musa Al-Namla, CEO of Qatar Museums, said: “This accomplishment comes as a culmination of Qatar Museums’ continuous efforts to revive the Qatari heritage and promote the various heritage sites in the country. The three heritage sites that were added to ISESCO Islamic World Heritage List comprise a significant historical and cultural heritage for the Qatari people, and the Islamic world as a whole. We will work to inscribe more Qatari Islamic archaeological sites, shine a spotlight on Qatar’s Islamic culture and reinforce its position on the map of Islamic and cultural tourism.”

These three archaeological sites were added to the other Qatari sites that have already been inscribed on the ISESCO Islamic World Heritage List in December 2019. They are Al Zubara Fort, Al Jassasiya Site, the Old Amiri Palace (Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Palace in the Qatar National Museum) and Al Ruwais Mosque. This brings the number of Qatari sites on the ISESCO Islamic World Heritage List to seven archaeological sites.