Tunisia Ranks First Among Arab Countries in World Heritage Listings Following the Inscription of Sidi Bou Said

With the inscription of the “Historic Village of Sidi Bou Said” on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Tunisia’s total number of listed properties has reached 10, placing the country first among Arab countries in terms of the number of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. The inscription took place during the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in Busan, Republic of Korea, in 2026.

Sidi Bou Said: Tunisia’s Tenth World Heritage Property

The “Village of Sidi Bou Said,” located in northern Tunisia overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition of its distinctive architecture and urban planning, harmony with the natural environment, and spiritual and cultural heritage.

The property was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2026 under Criterion (iii). This criterion is one of the criteria used to inscribe properties on the UNESCO World Heritage List and requires that a property bear unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization that is living or has disappeared.

With this inscription, Tunisia now has nine cultural properties and one natural property on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These include the Amphitheatre of El Jem, the Archaeological Site of Carthage, the Medina of Tunis, Ichkeul National Park, the Punic Town of Kerkuane and its Necropolis, Kairouan, the Medina of Sousse, Dougga, and Djerba.

The Historical and Cultural Features of Sidi Bou Said

With its coastal setting, the interplay of architecture, urban planning, and the natural environment, and its spiritual and cultural heritage, Sidi Bou Said holds a special place in Tunisia’s heritage. The property was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2026 under the title “The Village of Sidi Bou Said: A Source of Cultural and Spiritual Inspiration in the Mediterranean.”