Sidi Bou Saïd officially joins UNESCO World Heritage List

Tunisia officially celebrated the inclusion of Sidi Bou Saïd on the UNESCO World Heritage List during a ceremony held on September 25, 2026. The event took place at the Ennejma Ezzahra Center for Arab and Mediterranean Music in Tunis, led by Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs Amina Srarfi.

The recognition follows the formal handover of the UNESCO certificate to Dhia Khaled, Tunisia’s ambassador and permanent delegate to UNESCO, in Paris on September 24. The inscription, titled ‘Village de Sidi Bou Saïd: Hub of Cultural and Spiritual Inspiration in the Mediterranean’, was decided during UNESCO’s 48th session in Busan on July 25, 2026.

UNESCO identifies the site as a protected area on a Mediterranean peninsula, shaped by its topography and the legacy of the 12th or 13th-century Sufi master Sidi Bou Saïd. The designation recognizes the village’s unique combination of architecture, urban planning, landscape, and religious traditions. For the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs, this achievement marks the culmination of two years of scientific research and serves as a foundation for future heritage preservation efforts.