Browse the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Register of good safeguarding practices

The Committee meets annually to evaluate nominations proposed by States Parties to the 2003 Convention and decide whether or not to inscribe those cultural practices and expressions of intangible heritage on the Convention’s Lists.

By clicking on the inscribed elements listed below, you can discover the nominations, photos and videos, together with Committee decisions and evidence of community consent.

You may also experience a conceptual, visual and interactive navigation through ‘Dive into Intangible Cultural Heritage’ interfaces which demonstrate the thematic interconnectedness between all the elements inscribed and their relation to nature or to threats.


The nomination files submitted by the States Parties are published by the Secretariat of the 2003 Convention on its website in compliance with paragraph 54 of the Operational Directives regarding the nomination procedure; moreover, the information included in the nominations is reflected in working documents of the Committee in order to ensure transparency and access to information.


The sole responsibility for the content of each nomination file lies with the submitting States Parties concerned. The designations employed in the texts and documents presented by the submitting States Parties do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Committee nor UNESCO concerning a) the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, b) the legal status of its authorities, c) the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries, or d) references to specific historical events.





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Results : 90 elements corresponding to 3 regions and 53 countries
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2024

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Arabic coffee, a symbol of generosityUnited Arab Emirates – Oman – Qatar – Saudi Arabia – Jordan
Craftsmanship of Aleppo Ghar soapSyrian Arab Republic
Cultural practices related to Taif rosesSaudi Arabia
Henna: rituals, aesthetic and social practicesUnited Arab Emirates – Algeria – Bahrain – Egypt – Iraq – Jordan – Kuwait – Mauritania – Morocco – Oman – State of Palestine – Qatar – Saudi Arabia – Sudan – Tunisia – Yemen
Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz, Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nowruz, NavruzAfghanistan – Azerbaijan – India – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Iraq – Kazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan – Pakistan – Tajikistan – Türkiye – Turkmenistan – Mongolia
Performing arts among the Twāyef of GhbontenTunisia
Semsemiah: instrument crafting and playingEgypt – Saudi Arabia
The Epic of Samba GueladioMauritania
The women’s ceremonial costume in the Eastern region of Algeria: knowledge and skills associated with the making and adornment of the ‘Gandoura’ and the ‘Melehfa’Algeria
Tradition of Nabulsi soap making in PalestineState of Palestine
Xeer Ciise: Oral customary laws of Somali-Issa communities in Ethiopia, Djibouti and SomaliaEthiopia – Djibouti – Somalia

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Oman Youth Sail Training Ship (Safinat Shabab Oman) programme for peace and sustainable cultural dialogueOman

2023

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Traditional Syrian glassblowingSyrian Arab Republic
XeedhoDjibouti

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Man’ouché, an emblematic culinary practice in LebanonLebanon
Arts, skills and practices associated with engraving on metals (gold, silver and copper)Iraq – Algeria – Egypt – Mauritania – Morocco – State of Palestine – Saudi Arabia – Sudan – Tunisia – Yemen
Dabkeh, traditional dance in PalestineState of Palestine
Harees dish: know-how, skills and practicesUnited Arab Emirates – Oman – Saudi Arabia
Mahadra, a community system for transmission of traditional knowledge and oral expressionsMauritania
Malhun, a popular poetic and musical artMorocco
Maltese Village Festa, an annual community celebrationMalta
Procession and celebrations of Prophet Mohammed's birthday in SudanSudan
Traditional craft skills and arts of Al-Mudhif buildingIraq

2022

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al Talli, traditional embroidery skills in the United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
Al-Khanjar, craft skills and social practicesOman
Al-Mansaf in Jordan, a festive banquet and its social and cultural meaningsJordan
Alheda'a, oral traditions of calling camel flocksSaudi Arabia – Oman – United Arab Emirates
Crafting and playing the OudIran (Islamic Republic of) – Syrian Arab Republic
Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practicesUnited Arab Emirates – Bahrain – Egypt – Iraq – Jordan – Kuwait – Mauritania – Morocco – Oman – State of Palestine – Qatar – Saudi Arabia – Sudan – Tunisia – Yemen
Festivals related to the Journey of the Holy family in EgyptEgypt
Harissa, knowledge, skills and culinary and social practicesTunisia
Knowledge and practices related to cultivating Khawlani coffee beansSaudi Arabia
Raï, popular folk song of AlgeriaAlgeria

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Al Sadu Educational Programme: Train the trainers in the art of weavingKuwait

2021

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Qudoud al-HalabiyaSyrian Arab Republic
Arabic calligraphy: knowledge, skills and practicesSaudi Arabia – Algeria – Bahrain – Egypt – Iraq – Jordan – Kuwait – Lebanon – Mauritania – Morocco – Oman – State of Palestine – Sudan – Tunisia – United Arab Emirates – Yemen
Falconry, a living human heritageUnited Arab Emirates – Austria – Belgium – Croatia – Czechia – France – Germany – Hungary – Ireland – Italy – Kazakhstan – Republic of Korea – Kyrgyzstan – Mongolia – Morocco – Netherlands (Kingdom of the) – Pakistan – Poland – Portugal – Qatar – Saudi Arabia – Slovakia – Spain – Syrian Arab Republic
FjiriBahrain
L-Għana, a Maltese folksong traditionMalta
TbouridaMorocco
The art of embroidery in Palestine, practices, skills, knowledge and ritualsState of Palestine
Traditional craft skills and arts of Al-NaoorIraq

2020

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Handmade weaving in Upper Egypt (Sa'eed)Egypt

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al Aflaj, traditional irrigation network system in the UAE, oral traditions, knowledge and skills of construction, maintenance and equitable water distributionUnited Arab Emirates
Camel racing, a social practice and a festive heritage associated with camelsUnited Arab Emirates – Oman
Charfia fishing in the Kerkennah IslandsTunisia
Il-Ftira, culinary art and culture of flattened sourdough bread in MaltaMalta
Knowledge, know-how and practices pertaining to the production and consumption of couscousAlgeria – Mauritania – Morocco – Tunisia
Traditional weaving of Al SaduSaudi Arabia – Kuwait

2019

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

GnawaMorocco
Practices and craftsmanship associated with the Damascene rose in Al-MrahSyrian Arab Republic
Provision of services and hospitality during the Arba'in visitationIraq

2018

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Knowledge and skills of the water measurers of the foggaras or water bailiffs of Touat and TidikeltAlgeria
Shadow playSyrian Arab Republic
Traditional hand puppetryEgypt

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

As-Samer in JordanJordan
Horse and camel ArdhahOman
Pottery skills of the women of SejnaneTunisia

2017

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Al Azi, art of performing praise, pride and fortitude poetryUnited Arab Emirates
Taskiwin, martial dance of the western High AtlasMorocco

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, female traditional interior wall decoration in Asir, Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia

2016

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Almezmar, drumming and dancing with sticksSaudi Arabia
Khidr Elias feast and its vowsIraq
Tahteeb, stick gameEgypt

2015

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Razfa, a traditional performing artUnited Arab Emirates – Oman
Alardah Alnajdiyah, dance, drumming and poetry in Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
Majlis, a cultural and social spaceUnited Arab Emirates – Saudi Arabia – Oman – Qatar
Sbuâ, annual pilgrimage to the zawiya of Sidi El Hadj Belkacem in GouraraAlgeria

2014

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Ayyala, a traditional performing art of the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab EmiratesOman – United Arab Emirates
Al-Zajal, recited or sung poetryLebanon
Argan, practices and know-how concerning the argan treeMorocco
Ritual and ceremonies of Sebeïba in the oasis of Djanet, AlgeriaAlgeria

2013

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Annual pilgrimage to the mausoleum of Sidi ‘Abd el-Qader Ben Mohammed (Sidi Cheikh)Algeria
Mediterranean dietCyprus – Croatia – Spain – Greece – Italy – Morocco – Portugal
Practices and knowledge linked to the Imzad of the Tuareg communities of Algeria, Mali and NigerAlgeria – Mali – Niger

2012

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al ‘azi, elegy, processional march and poetryOman
Al-Taghrooda, traditional Bedouin chanted poetry in the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of OmanUnited Arab Emirates – Oman
Cherry festival in SefrouMorocco
Rites and craftsmanship associated with the wedding costume tradition of TlemcenAlgeria

2011

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Al Sadu, traditional weaving skills in the United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
Moorish epic T’heydinnMauritania

2010

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Bar’ah, music and dance of Oman Dhofari valleysOman

2008

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Ahellil of GouraraAlgeria
Al-Sirah Al-Hilaliyyah epicEgypt
Cultural space of Jemaa el-Fna SquareMorocco
Cultural space of the Bedu in Petra and Wadi RumJordan
Iraqi MaqamIraq
Moussem of Tan-TanMorocco
Palestinian HikayeState of Palestine
Song of Sana’aYemen
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