Shaikha Mai Launches Heritage Book in Paris

A cyclopedic book documenting over sixty heritage sites across the Arab World was launched yesterday. Culture Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa attended the ceremony at the Paris-based UNESCO headquarters. Arab and foreign figures, archaeologists, representatives of cultural institutions, decision-makers, diplomats and reporters were also present. The book titled "World Heritage in Arab Countries" spotlights heritage sites in 16 Arab countries. The selected vestiges feature on the UNESCO-list of world heritage sites. World-famed John Gilbert took stunning shots of the selected vestiges, which feature ample details in three languages. The Ministry of Culture published the book in cooperation with both the UNESCO and The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA), and with full support and sponsorship of Bahrain Bay project. The scheme is considered as one of the largest real estate development projects in Bahrain. It is being spearhead by Arcapita Bank, led by Chief Executive Officer Atif Abdulmalik, who is also Bahrain Bat Chairman. The book includes the Bahrain Fort, featuring since 2005 on the UNESCO-list of world heritage sites. Shaikh Mai stressed the importance of the voluminous Bahraini book, which followed the recommendations of the archeological conference promoting heritage sites in the Arab countries. She also hoped that Bahrain's renewed bid to host the meetings of the World Heritage Committee would be approved to coincided with another key event: Bahrain: Capital of Arab Culture. Mr. Abdulmalik also stressed the importance of the book, which documents the history of the Arab region and promotes the protection of heritage sites