The World Heritage Committee is comprised of representatives from 21 States Parties to the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage elected by the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention.
The current composition of the Committee is as follows:
Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, and Zambia.
The essential functions of the Committee are:
i. To identify, on the basis of nominations submitted by States Parties, cultural and natural properties of Outstanding Universal Value which are to be protected under the Convention, and to inscribe those properties on the World Heritage List.
ii. To monitor the state of conservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, in liaison with States Parties; decide which properties included in the World Heritage List are to be inscribed on or removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger; decide whether a property may be deleted from the World Heritage List.
iii. To examine requests for International Assistance financed by the World Heritage Fund.
For further information, please click here.
Chairperson:
Dr Abdulelah Al-Tokhais (Saudi Arabia)
Rapporteur:
Ms. Shikha Jain (India)
Vice-Chairpersons:
Argentina, Italy, Russian Federation, South Africa, Thailand
The extended 45th session of the World Heritage Committee will be held in Riyadh from 10 to 25 September 2023 at Al-Faisaliah Hotel and its premises.
All participation requests shall be submitted online. To register, please follow the URL using the registration code provided in the invitation letter addressed to either the Permanent Delegation, National Commission or your organization.
Registration
If you have not received the registration code, please contact your Permanent Delegation or National Commission.
Contact Details
Once you have registered online and your accreditation has been granted, you will receive an email confirming your registration and you will be redirected to the Host Country's website to finalize logistics details of your participation. Should you require any assistance, encounter any difficulties with the online registration process, or if you have not received a confirmation e-mail, please reach out by using the contact form available here.
All delegates and those who wish to attend the extended 45th session as observers are kindly advised to register as soon as possible and preferably before 1 August 2023. This will allow the session organizers sufficient time to process the information and make the necessary arrangements. Please see further details under Visa Requirements section.
Registration is mandatory for all participants. The badge distribution desk, situated at the entrance of the session venue, Al-Faisaliah Hotel, will be open on 8 and 9 September from 9 am to 11 pm and on 10 until 25 September from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. All participants are encouraged to present themselves at the on-site badge collection desk before the Opening Ceremony of the World Heritage Committee on 10 September in order to allow a smooth process. For late registration, an on-site registration desk will be situated at the entrance of the session venue, Al-Faisaliah Hotel, and will be open on 8 and 9 September from 9 am to 11 pm and on 10 until 25 September from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. A welcome package with an information dossier about the extended 45th session will be provided at the time of registration. Please note that, due to safety reasons and the expected number of visitors, the process of registration and receiving your badge may be time consuming. For this reason, early registration is strongly encouraged.
Every participant must be in possession of a personal security photo identification badge (ID), which can be obtained at the registration desk. The ID badges are not transferable. For security purposes, the badge must be worn in a visible way at all times to access the session venue, to attend meetings and to participate in other activities, such as opening and closing ceremonies. Access to the meeting will be denied to any individual who is not officially accredited or who uses the ID badge in an inappropriate manner.
All relevant information for the session - including the registration page, documents, provisional schedules for certain agenda items - will be regularly updated here.
All participants as well as the general public can follow the daily working sessions throughout the duration of the extended 45th session via the livestream which will be aired through here. There are no limits in the number of people who can follow the livestream nor registration of any kind required.
Working and Information Documents corresponding to the items inscribed on the Agenda of the extended 45th session will be published and accessible on the dedicated webpage on the World Heritage Centre’s website here as they become available starting from 30 June 2023, in the two working languages of the Committee (English and French).
As for any other session of the World Heritage Committee, the Decisions Report and Summary Records, as well as recordings, will be made available after the end of the session in conformity with Rules 46 and 47 of the Rules of Procedures of the World Heritage Committee.
With the support of the higher authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to host the extended forty-fifth session of the World Heritage Committee during the year 2023, the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science at the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the main organizer of the session.
For general information regarding the extended 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, please contact the organizers at the following email address: information@45whcriyadh2023.com
The official venue of the extended 45th session of the World Heritage Committee is Al-Faisaliah Hotel.
It is located in the heart of the city and setting new standards for luxury, Al Faisaliah Hotel is one of the most sought-after addresses in Saudi Arabia. Its timeless elegance, central location and panoramic views are complemented by signature service to ensure a truly unforgettable Arabian experience. The Committee Plenary Meeting Room will be in Prince Sultan Hall which was designed to host events, banquets, presentations and meetings. Plenaries and Bureau sessions, working groups and side events will also take place in the hotel premises.
All participants of the extended 45th session of the Committee are entitled to free of charge transportation with the...
The Opening Ceremony will take place on 10 September 2023 in Al - Riyadh and will be followed by a cultural performance...
If you wish to organize a side event or an exhibition, kindly submit your request to the UNESCO Secretariat focal point...
The Opening Ceremony will take place on 10 September 2023 in Al- Riyadh and will be followed by a cultural performance and refreshments. Only registered participants with a badge will be allowed to take part in the Opening Ceremony. Formal dress is recommended for this event. Please collect your badge beforehand at the on-site registration desk in Al-Faisaliah Hotel.
The Closing Ceremony for the session will be held on 25 September in Riyadh. The event will include cultural performances and a reception.
Further details on the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will be announced soon 45whcriyadh2023.com
If you wish to organize a side event or an exhibition, kindly submit your request to the UNESCO Secretariat focal point, Mr David Martel (d.martel@unesco.org) and Caroline Varnet (c.varnet@unesco.org) , by 28 July 2023 at the latest.
You will receive a form to fill in with details regarding the type of event or exhibition your country/insititution would like to organize, indicating the characteristics of the required space as well as catering and technical needs.
After receiving clearance from the Secretariat, you will be put in contact with the Host Country organizers for any relevant information and details concerning the organization of the event (technical assistance, catering, etc.). Please note that the organizers reserve the right to indicate the space in which the requested event will take place. Though diverse, the space available at Al-Faisaliah Hotel premises is limited and it may occur that the organizers may not be able to accept all applications.
For queries, you may contact the organizers of the session as below:
Side Events: events@45whcriyadh2023.com
General email address for queries: information@45whcriyadh2023.com
