About Us

The UNESCO Chair for World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Management in the Arab region was established in 2022 in the German University for Technology in Oman in collaboration with the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage. The chair is established to promote world heritage sites and sustainable tourism in the Arab region, to set the strategic objectives of UNESCO to implementation and to contributes to implementing the sustainable development goals locally and regionally.

World Heritage Sites draws international attention to heritage sites of outstanding universal value and is expected to increase the number of visitors to these sites. The chair aims to support the role of world heritage in contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals by employing tourism in its comprehensive and sustainable manifestation to drive socio-economic development and to maximize benefits to the communities surrounding these sites. 

The Chair is established in partnership with the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage, a UNESCO Category II Centre based in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The center serves 19 Arab States in the promotion and management of cultural and natural sites by providing technical support and reinforcing the implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention in the region. The chair complements the role of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage and aims to introduce several academic programs in the field of heritage management, digitalization of heritage, heritage narrative and interpretation and heritage economics.

Prof. Dr Heba Aziz,
Chair holder

Contribution to national and regional development

Oman Vision 2040 has identified Citizenship, Identity, National Heritage, and Culture as key priority areas. The establishment of a UNESCO chair in collaboration with the ARCWH exemplifies regional cooperation aimed at shared objectives. The primary mission of ARCWH is to enhance the implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention in the Arab States by promoting the decisions and recommendations of the World Heritage Committee, thereby benefiting World Heritage properties in the region. The UNESCO chair will further this mission by linking it to socio-economic development and utilizing sustainable tourism at World Heritage Sites as a means to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On a national level, Oman’s Vision 2040 emphasizes the importance of Citizenship, Identity, National Heritage, and Culture. It highlights the roles of the private sector, civil society organizations, and government policies in preserving cultural legacies, with tourism identified as a major catalyst for these efforts.

The Vision also prioritizes the development of governorates and sustainable cities. World Heritage and national heritage sites are distributed across various governorates in Oman. The chair will focus on the sustainable management of tourism within these sites, serving as an implementation mechanism for this priority.

Another key focus is on the labour market and employment. The chair’s objectives and activities align closely with this priority, contributing to SDG 7. Tourism can play a vital role in job creation and fostering creative industries. To support this, the chair will conduct capacity-building workshops aimed at students and local community members to encourage an entrepreneurial spirit.

Finally, Oman Vision 2040 places significant emphasis on education, learning, and scientific research. The UNESCO chair is situated in one of Oman’s leading universities and is supported by the university’s research, teaching, and innovation mandate. The university has committed funding for research and innovation in this area, with a particular focus on heritage and technology, facilitated by a multidisciplinary approach.

Moments that shaped the Chair

October 31, 2022

Official Launching of the Chair

October 31, 2022

March 11-17, 2023

First Dive into Heritage Workshop

Enhance capacities of youth and regional experts
in the field of digital heritage documentation,
digital workflows and data processing and the focus of this year was Bahla Fort.

March 11-17, 2023

February 24-27, 2024

Opportunities 4 Heritage Conference: Fostering Innovation, Conservation and Sustainability

Attracting researchers in the fields of heritage and tourism from around the world to present papers and showcase academic research on topics such as heritage preservation, digitization, innovative funding strategies, tourism management at heritage sites, and other related areas of importance.

February 24-27, 2024

December 14-17, 2024

Empowering Local Communities in World Heritage Sites: Design, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Workshop

Raise awareness about the significance of World Heritage, foster innovation and entrepreneurship in tourism and creative industries, and engage the local community in developing projects that support heritage preservation and promote sustainable development. 

December 14-17, 2024

January 19, 2025

Agreement to Update the Bahla Fort Site’s Management Plan

To update the management plan of the site which was last updated in 2008 to keep up with the development currently existing in the different neighborhoods in Bahla Oasis.

January 19, 2025

Team Members

Prof. Dr. Heba Aziz
Chair Holder
Director of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage
Dr. Dawood Al Jahwari
Researcher
Ms. Jokha Al Saqri
Researcher
Amaad Mukadam
Research Assistant
Dr. Osman Barghouth
Co-Chairholder
Associate Professor at the German University of Technology in Oman
Mr. Ahmed Al Mukhanin
Researcher
Ms. Zainab Al Salmi
Research Assistant​ and the Chair's Coordinator

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