unesco

Khaled al-Anani: the first Arab head of UNESCO

From the Pyramids to the United Nations, Egyptologist Khaled al-Anani's expertise will be invaluable in his new role

Amr Emam 12 October 2025

Lifting the veil on Tunisia's child abuse problem

Two recent UNESCO studies show the social and economic impact of a practice considered normal throughout Tunisia: that of parents inflicting physical and psychological violence against their children

Asmahan Al-Sha’abouni 11 June 2025

The cultural landscape of Al Faw Archaeological Area

Al Faw: A beacon of tolerance on the edge of the Saudi desert

The Kingdom's latest addition to the world's premier heritage sits on an ancient trade route and brought together various faiths, creating a historic treasure trove that has been recognised by UNESCO

Abdullah Al-Rashid 21 September 2024

Saudi Arabia’s ancient village of Al Faw has been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it the eighth in Saudi Arabia to be featured on the list.

SPA

Al Faw becomes Saudi Arabia's eighth UNESCO heritage site

The ancient village dates back to 500BC and served as a major trade hub and urban centre in the Arabian Peninsula that connected other prominent civilisations

Jaber Muhammad Madkhali 05 September 2024

Golestan Palace, a UNESCO Heritage Site in Tehran, Iran

Shutterstock

Iran’s plan to sell historic sites sparks 'monumental' controversy

Proposed auctions for a range of cultural and architectural treasures are being opposed by experts and the public alike. There are fears that the plans could be the first of a wave of privatisations.

Rustum Mahmud 11 June 2023

A baker shows freshly-baked?baguettes at "Armand" bakery in Nice, France, November 28, 2022. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

French Baguette Gains Place on World Cultural Heritage List to Bakers' Delight

The humble baguette, France's staple bread, made it onto the United Nation's cultural heritage list on Wednesday, drawing delighted responses from French bakers and non-bakers alike. Paris-based U…

30 November 2022

FILE - In this undated photo provided by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Great Barrier Reef near the Whitsunday, Australia, region is viewed from the air. A United Nations-backed mission is recommending that the Great Barrier Reef be added to the list of endangered World Heritage sites, sounding the alarm that without "ambitious, rapid and sustained" climate action the world's largest coral reef is in peril. The warning came in a report published Monday Nov. 28, 2022 following a 10-day mission to the reef last March by officials from UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.(Jumbo Aerial Photography/Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority via AP)

UN: Great Barrier Reef Should Be On Heritage ‘Danger’ List

A United Nations-backed mission is recommending that the Great Barrier Reef be added to the list of endangered World Heritage sites, warning that without “ambitious, rapid and sustained” climate…

AP 28 November 2022

FILE PHOTO:Glaciologist Matthias Huss together with members of the Glacier Monitoring in Switzerland (GLAMOS) Romain Hugonnet and Andreas Linsbauer climb the Gries glacier during a trip to check measuring equipment in Gries, Switzerland, September 2, 2022. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Major Glaciers, Including Dolomites and Yosemite, to Disappear by 2050 - UN Report

Some of the world's most famous glaciers, including in the Dolomites in Italy, the Yosemite and Yellowstone parks in the United States and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania will disappear by 2050 due to…

02 November 2022

Castellers de Vilafranca form a human tower called "castell" during a biannual human tower competition in Tarragona, Spain, October 2, 2022. REUTERS/Albert Gea

Catalans Compete to Build the Biggest Human Towers in Spain

Spain's biggest human towers competition took place on Sunday, with some 11,000 spectators packing the bullring in the northeastern city of Tarragona to watch the daring Catalan tradition. Human…

03 October 2022

Governments Grapple with Visibility of Disability

The prevalence of disability is matched by its impact. A staggering one billion people across the globe live with a physical or mental condition that limits their movements, senses, or abilities,…

Luisa Markides 15 July 2022

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Editor's Pick

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump at the White House, Washington, on 18 November 2025.

SPA

Politics

Saudi Arabia scores ally upgrade in Washington

19 November 2025

Trump elevates Saudi Arabia to 'major non-NATO ally' status, but bigger issues of normalisation with Israel and a binding security treaty need more time. Nonetheless, this is a huge step forward.

Abdullah F. Alrebh

Lina Jaradat

Business & Economy

Hezbollah money laundering risks sanctions on Lebanon

17 November 2025

Media reports show pro-Hezbollah charities using online platforms to solicit donations via digital wallets to circumvent sanctions. In Lebanon's cash economy, that is a dangerous game to play.

Thuraya Shahin

Al Majalla's Editor-in-Chief Ibrahim Hamidi interviews Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on 13 November 2025.

Axel Rangel Garcia

Politics

Asaad Shaibani on how Syria untangled its Russian knot

18 November 2025

In Part 1 of a two-part interview with Al Majalla, Syria's foreign minister explains how the Assad regime fell and how President Ahmed al-Sharaa went from a wanted man to a world leader

Ibrahim Hamidi

AL MAJALLA/ AFP

Culture & Social Affairs

50 years on, 'Grendizer' still stirs Arab hearts

23 November 2025

The Arab world's connection to the cartoon series remains uniquely intimate. No other animated comic hero has achieved the same level of fame, resonance, and longevity.

Shadi Alaa Aldin