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UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, upon an invitation by the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage is undertaking an official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain, From 17 to 18 May 2017.

The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) was the first stop of the Director-General of the UNESCO, where she was welcomed by H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa ARC-WH Board of Directors’ Chairperson, Dr. Shadia Touqan, Director of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) staff members and experts working at the center.

Speaking for the occasion, H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa said “ Bahrain is welcoming today a very influential figure who has made a difference to the world in a positive way. We are pleased to have Mrs. Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General among us in Bahrain, a country that boasts to have two sites on the World Heritage List”. H.E added saying “ The established of Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage is the result of constructive efforts and continuous cooperation between UNESCO and the Kingdom of Bahrain that lasted for years. We thank Mrs. Irina Bokova for believing in Bahrain’s potential to host such center and assume the responsibility of preserving and protecting Arab heritage”. H.E also said that the (ARC-WH) will continue to enhance its relations with UNESCO experts in Paris, promoting cultural heritage of Arab countries. H.E also highlighted the impressive record of the center and its achievements since its establishment in 2012, naming and inscribing new world heritage sites every year, developing human resources expertise in Arab heritage-related institutions, publication of manuals and books to raise awareness about universal heritage for humanity and building successful cooperation ties with world’s heritage -related organisations.

During her visit to the ARC_WH, Mrs. Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General, got acquainted with the work and activities of the center carried out in Bahrain, the Arab region and the world. Indeed, the ARC_WH has carried out many projects during the last years aimed at preserving the Arab cultural heritage, regional workshops, international conferences and forums on heritage from the around the world. Mrs. Bokova also was briefed on the center’s support to the Arab countries with regard to registration of new sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List and its constant efforts build relationships with international organizations through the exchange of visits or drafting conventions and agreements.

Worth to mention that Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) is a Category 2 Center under the auspices of UNESCO that was established in 2010 as an independent legal entity at the service of Arab States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, upon a convention between the Kingdom of Bahrain, represented by H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa and UNESCO, represented by Mrs. Irina Bokova. The ARC-WH is dedicated to reinforcing the effective conservation and protection of natural and cultural heritage and to improving the implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention in their respective States Parties. The center has made many positive actions and efforts to preserve and protect Arab heritage, tangible and intangible in many countries, such as Jordan, Sudan, Yemen, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and others.

While in Bahrain, the Director-General also visited Bahrain’s Fort (Qal'at al-Bahrain) inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2005, where she discovered the magic wonders of Qal'at al Bahrain (Bahrain Fort), an ancient harbor and capital of Dilmun, the Site Museum artefacts dating back to 4.000 years-old Dilmun civilization and the successive historical periods.

UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova also made a visit to the heart of the city of Muharraq, the citadel of Shaikha Ibrahim Center for Culture & Research, a private cultural institution that was established 15 years ago. Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research has hosted over 500 speakers, philosophers, artists, poets and thinkers, who have presented their thoughts in the center’s weekly lecture program. As the demand for cultural activities and a need for the preservation of our Bahraini heritage grew, the center expanded. To date, the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research has restored around ten traditional Bahraini houses in Muharraq and Manama, many belonging to leading Bahraini personalities or families