IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

 1. Algeria- Alger (D’Janet - Tassili mixed WH site)
2. Bahrain – Manamah
3. Egypt – Cairo (Al Fyyoum- Wadi Al Hitan Natural WH site)
4. Iran- Tahran
5. Iraq- Baghdad
6. Jordan – Amman (Ma’an – Wadi Rum Mixed WH site)
7. Kuwait - Kuwait
8. Lebanon – Beirut
9. Mauritania – Nouakchott ( Banc D’Arguin – Natural WH site)
10. Morocco – Rabat
11. Libya – Tripoli
12. Oman – Muscat
13. Palestine – Ramallah
14. Qater - Douha
15. Sudan – Khartoun
16. Saudi Arabia- Al Riyadh and Jeddah
17. Tunisia – Tunis (Ichkeul – Natural WH site)
18. UAE – Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah
19. Yemen – Sana’a ( Socotra Island – Natural WH site)

Across the World Heritage Sites, a number of species are in peril such as the endangered Monk Seal and Dorcas Gazelle; the globally vulnerable Marbled Teal as well as species of reeds, tamarisks, submerged macrophytes, cord grasses, bulrush (Scirpus), and halophytes; 283 species of coral, 730 species of fish, 2 nesting species of sea turtle, many whale and dolphin species; and the Arabia Oryx.

Threats in the region include:

- Development and business activities such as oil and gas mining, unsustainable tourism and weak policies and weak law enforcement
- Lack of technical and financial resources capacities and the absence of nature conservation as a priority on the national agenda
- Water scarcity and high demands on water resources
- Weak or insufficient laws and inadequate systems for nature protection

The number of natural sites currently listed is the smallest of any of the UNESCO regions by a considerable margin.

Contact details

Regional Office for West Asia
IUCN World Heritage Focal Point, Arab States - Haifaa ABDULHALIM
Email: Haiffa.abdulhalim@iucn.org
Telephone:+96.265.546.912/ 3/ 4
Fax: +96.265.546.915