The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has added eight new sites to the World Heritage List at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Busan, South Korea .
Of these, the Middle East and North Africa region dominates with 6 new heritage sites from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan, Iran , Tunisia, Lebanon and Palestine, in addition to two sites in Brazil and Mongolia.
According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in the Middle East, UNESCO has inscribed the Wadi Wurayah Reserve in the Hajar Mountains of the Emirate of Fujairah (UAE) on the world's "golden list". Covering an area of approximately 22,000 hectares, it is a rare freshwater ecosystem in an arid region, home to more than 1,000 species of plants and animals, including many rare and endangered species.
Wadi Wurayah is the third site in the UAE to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, following the Al Ain Cultural Heritage Site (2011) and the Faya Ancient Site (2025). However, if considered specifically within the natural heritage group, it is the first site in the country to achieve this title.
In Jordan, the Aqaba Marine Reserve is recognized as the world's northernmost tropical coral reef system. This 701-hectare reserve is home to over 150 species of hard corals, approximately 500 species of fish, and nearly 1,000 species of mollusks, and also preserves many endemic species found only in the Red Sea and Aqaba Bay.
Iran is represented by the Alamut Fortress Complex and its defensive structures, which served as the political , military, and academic center of the Ismaili Nizari community from the 11th century until its fall in 1256. The Alamut fortress system, along with numerous other defensive structures in the Alborz Mountains, is considered a significant testament to Iran's religious and ideological history.
In North Africa, the Tunisian village of Sidi Bou Said is also recognized by UNESCO for its harmonious blend of traditional architecture, urban planning, Mediterranean landscape, and cultural values associated with Sufi Islam. The village, famous for its white-painted houses and blue doors, has long been a source of inspiration for many artists.
Meanwhile, five historic castles in the Jabal Amel region of southern Lebanon—Beaufort, Toron, Dubieh, Maron, and Qalaat Chama—are recognized as a single unified heritage site. This was once a strategic defensive network spanning multiple dynasties from the Crusades, Ayyubid, Mamluk, to Ottoman. Due to the heavy impact of prolonged conflict, the complex is also listed as a World Heritage Site in Danger.
UNESCO also recognizes the Sebastia archaeological site in the West Bank as a World Heritage Site. Once the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, known as Samaria, before its development under Hellenistic and Roman rule, Sebastia preserves traces of successive civilizations over more than two millennia and is believed to be the burial place of Saint John the Baptist. Like other castles in Lebanon, this site was also inscribed under emergency procedures and is on the list of endangered heritage sites.
Beyond the Middle East, UNESCO has also recognized Theatro da Paz in Belém and Teatro Amazonas in Manaus ( Brazil ). These two theaters, built in the French architectural style during the rubber boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reflect a period of flourishing economic development in the Amazon region. The recognition also extends to the two historic squares surrounding these structures.
In Mongolia, the Xiongnu aristocratic tombs complex has become the country's 7th World Heritage Site. The complex comprises eight aristocratic burial sites of the Xiongnu Empire – a powerful nomadic alliance that dominated the Eurasian steppes from the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AD. A wealth of artifacts, including chariots, saddles, weapons, tools, and burial goods, have been found, providing invaluable evidence of the life, social structure, and culture of the Xiongnu people.
With the addition of eight new sites, the UNESCO World Heritage List continues to expand, contributing to the celebration of humanity's outstanding natural, historical, and cultural values, while highlighting the urgent need to preserve heritage sites under pressure from conflict, climate change, and urbanization.