Kazakhstan - Turkmenistan - Uzbekistan - Cold Winter Deserts of Turan

"This transnational property comprises fourteen component parts found across arid areas of Central Asia’s temperate zone between the Caspian Sea and the Turanian high mountains. The area is subject to extreme climatic conditions with very cold winters and hot summers, and boasts an exceptionally diverse flora and fauna that has adapted to the harsh conditions. The property also represents a considerable diversity of desert ecosystems, spanning a distance of more than 1,500 kilometres from East to West. Each of the component parts complements the others in terms of biodiversity, desert types, and ongoing ecological processes."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Altyn Emel National Park, Kazakhstan is part of Cold Winter Deserts of Turan - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thanks to Pifpal.

Iran - Alamūt Castle and Related Fortifications (2026)

"The serial property comprises of Alamūt Castle and six associated fortifications—Lambesar, Navizaršāh, Šams Kelāyeh, Qosṭinlār, Širkūh, and Ilān—strategically positioned within the rugged landscape of the Alborz Mountains in Qazvin Province, northern Iran. From the late 11th century CE, Alamūt served as the political, military, and intellectual centre of the Nezāri Ismaʿilis, an influential Islamic movement whose reach extended across Iran and the wider Islamic world. This fortified network functioned both as a refuge and as a scholarly and cultural hub, sustaining the Nezāri community until the fall of Alamūt in 1256 and continuing to shape regional religious and intellectual history long thereafter. Together, the fortifications illustrate the strategic organisation, resilience, and cultural significance of the Nezāri Ismaʿili state."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

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United Arab Emirates - Wadi Wurayah (2026)

The property is located entirely within the Hajar mountain range in the Emirate of Fujairah. Geologically, the Hajar Mountains represent extensive and well-preserved exposures of ophiolite sequences, formed during Late Cretaceous tectonic processes. Ecologically, the property is situated within the Al Hajar Foothill Xeric Woodlands and Shrublands, recognised for its ecological distinctiveness, high species richness, and significant levels of endemism. Wadi Wurayah hosts 1,099 recorded species (883 fauna and 216 flora), including at least ten globally threatened species. These represent approximately half of the terrestrial mammal species and nearly half of the terrestrial reptile species recorded in the country.

Jordan - Aqaba Marine Reserve

The property, located at the northernmost tip of the Red Sea, comprises a mosaic of coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mesophotic reefs that sustain diverse marine life and ecological processes. Recognized as the world’s northernmost tropical coral reef system, the property is notable for its thermally resilient corals, which have adapted over the last 10,000 years to marine heatwaves, high salinity, and elevated summer temperatures. The reserve safeguards important marine genetic resources and supports exceptional biodiversity, including more than 150 species of hard coral, over 500 species of fish, and 1,000 species of molluscs. Its coral endemism is globally significant, supporting approximately 61% of all Red Sea endemic hard coral species, while more than 80 fish species are endemic to the Red Sea or Gulf of Aqaba.

Uzbekistan - Tashkent Modernist Architecture. Modernity and Tradition in Central Asia (2026)

The property embodies a representative ensemble of ten modernist buildings and urban complexes constructed between the 1960s and early 1990s, a formative period in the reconstruction and transformation of Tashkent following the 1966 earthquake. The series includes museums, exhibition halls, hotels, residential ensembles, cultural institutions, and scientific or infrastructural facilities, reflecting the broad functional spectrum of late‑Soviet architectural production. Nine out of ten component parts are situated along the newly planned urban axes of the reconstructed city centre, as defined in successive masterplans that reshaped Tashkent into a modern socialist metropolis. Together, they articulate the city’s principal public spaces and demonstrate the integration of modernist planning principles with local climatic, seismic, and cultural conditions. Collectively, the serial property illustrates a distinct phase of architectural modernism characterised by industrialised construction, seismic‑resilient engineering, and the adaptation of standardised systems to regional materials, traditions, and environmental constraints.

Mongolia - The Cemetery Complexes of the Xiongnu Nobility

This serial property comprises eight funerary complexes of the Xiongnu nobility. The Xiongnu, ancient predecessors of a confederation of Eurasian nomadic peoples, established a powerful empire between the 3rd century BCE and the 2nd century CE that eventually occupied a vast territory centred on what is now Mongolia. They interacted with the Han Chinese and controlled nodes along the main parts of the Steppe Route of the Silk Roads. Among the numerous archaeological remains found across the former expanse of the empire, their cemeteries provide important insights into Xiongnu burial culture. The main burials, notable for their substantial size and depth, are accompanied by satellite graves marked by small ring-shaped mounds, as well as sacrificial structures consisting of alignments of paired stones. A wide range of artefacts found in the tombs, including horse tack and chariots as well as weapons, tools and food for the afterlife, provides a window into the Xiongnu way of life and social structure. The tombs of the Xiongnu nobility highlight the engineering and organisational skills of this predominantly nomadic culture.

Lebanon - Mount Amel Castles (2026)

"The serial property comprises five fortified sites located across the historic region of Jabal Amel in southern Lebanon: Qalaat Al Chakif (Beaufort Castle), Qalaat Tibnin (Toron Castle), Qalaat Chakra (Dubieh Castle), Qalaat Deir Kifa (Maron Castle), and Qalaat Chama’ (Chama’ Castle). Occupying prominent hilltops and strategic ridges overlooking major regional routes, the castles formed an integrated defensive and administrative network that controlled movement, communication, and agricultural resources across a vast territory. Developed between the medieval period and the 19th century, they illustrate successive phases of occupation and adaptation by Crusader, Ayyubid, Mamluk, Ottoman, and local feudal rulers. Their fortifications, keeps, towers, gateways, and residential quarters preserve evidence of the continuous exchange of military knowledge, construction techniques, and territorial management practices between European and Near Eastern traditions, while demonstrating the evolution of defensive architecture and fortified network over nearly a millennium."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Site

India - Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath (2026)

"The serial property contains the architectural and archaeological remains of Sarnath, the sacred site where the Buddha is believed to have delivered his first sermon in the 6th century BCE and met his earliest disciples. Identified by the Buddha himself as one of the four principal Buddhist pilgrimage sites, Sarnath grew over many centuries through royal, monastic, and lay patronage, resulting in the construction of numerous stupas, temples, and viharas. After flourishing as a major Buddhist centre, Sarnath declined in the 12th century CE and fell into obscurity until its rediscovery in the 18th century. Today preserved as two archaeological zones, it remains both an important tourist destination and a revived pilgrimage site for Buddhists worldwide."

Palestine - Sebastia

Sebastia.

Vietnam - Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes (2025)

The property comprises 20 sites across forested mountains, lowlands, and river valleys. Centred on the Yen Tu Mountain Range, it was home to the Tran Dynasty during the 13th and 14th centuries and the birthplace of Truc Lam Buddhism, a uniquely Vietnamese Zen tradition that shaped the Dai Viet kingdom. The complex includes pagodas, temples, shrines, and archaeological remains tied to religious and historical figures. Strategically located in geologically favourable settings, it remains a vibrant pilgrimage destination.

Iran - The Prehistoric Sites of the Khorramabad Valley (2025)

The prehistoric sites of the Khorramabad Valley include five caves and one rock shelter within a narrow ecological corridor rich in water, flora, and fauna. Human occupation dates back 63,000 years, with evidence from the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic periods. These sites reveal Mousterian and Baradostian cultures, offering insights into early human evolution and migration from Africa to Eurasia. Artifacts such as decorative objects and advanced stone tools highlight the cognitive and technological development of early humans in the Zagros Mountains. The area remains underexplored, holding significant potential for future archaeological discoveries.

South Korea - Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream (2025)

"The property is located along the Bangucheon Stream on the Republic of Korea’s southeastern coast, spanning about three kilometers through a landscape of stratified cliffs. It features two significant rock art sites: the Daegok-ri and Cheonjeon-ri Petroglyphs. These panels contain dense concentrations of engravings created by successive generations from 5,000 BCE to the 9th century CE. Carved using stone and metal tools, the petroglyphs depict a wide range of imagery and reflect both prehistoric and historic cultural expressions."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Site

India - Maratha Military Landscapes of India (2025)

"The property includes twelve major fortifications, mostly in Maharashtra State, with one in Tamil Nadu. These forts, such as Raigad, Shivneri, and Sindhudurg, were built, adapted, or expanded by the Marathas between the late 17th and early 19th centuries. Strategically located on coastal and mountainous terrain, they formed a complex defence system supporting Maratha military dominance, trade protection, and territorial control. This network played a key role in the Marathas’ rise as a major political and military force."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Tajikistan - Cultural Heritage Sites of Ancient Khuttal (2025)

 Tajikistan - Cultural Heritage Sites of Ancient Khuttal is a UNESCO World Heritage site inscribed in 2025. 

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Cambodia - Cambodian Memorial Sites: From centres of repression to places of peace and reflection (2025)

"The property consists of three locations that reflect the human rights abuses of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia from 1971 to 1979. The three component parts represent the widespread violence during this period: the former M-13 prison (early repression), the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (former S-21 prison), and the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (former execution site of S-21). These places have been preserved and memorialized since the regime’s fall. The Tuol Sleng Museum maintains extensive archives and collections related to this period, mainly documented by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC)."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Site


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United Arab Emirates - Faya Palaeolandscape (2025)

 "Located between the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea, the property preserves evidence of human occupation from the Middle Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods (210,000–6,000 years ago). Archaeological layers reveal how hunter-gatherers and pastoralists adapted to extreme climates, alternating between arid and rainy periods every 20,000 years. Beyond subsistence activities, early human groups utilized the site's geomorphological features for resource extraction. With diverse water sources and raw materials, Faya provides valuable insights into human resilience in hyper-arid environments."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Iran - Hegmataneh

"The archaeological remains of ancient Hegmataneh are located in northwestern Iran. Continuously inhabited for nearly three millennia, Hegmataneh provides important and rare evidence of the Medes civilization in the 7th and 6th centuries BCE and later served as a summer capital of Achaemenid, Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanian rulers."

Saudi Arabia - ‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid

 The property encompasses the western part of the greatest expanse of windblown sand on Earth, known as Ar Rub' al-KhaIi, and conserves one of the Earth’s most spectacular desert landscapes. The varied topography of the property creates a wide range of wildlife habitats and the site is globally notable due to the reintroduction of iconic desert animals, including the Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) and Arabian Sand Gazelle (Gazella marica), into their natural habitats after decades of extinction in the wild. The mobile dunes also provide an excellent and well-oxygenated habitat for sand-diving invertebrates and reptiles.

Tajikistan - Tugay forests of the Tigrovaya Balka Nature Reserve

This property is located between the Vakhsh and Panj rivers in southwestern Tajikistan. The Reserve includes extensive riparian tugay ecosystems, the sandy Kashka-Kum desert, the Buritau peak, as well as the Hodja-Kaziyon mountains. The property is composed of a series of floodplain terraces covered by alluvial soils, comprising tugay riverine forests with very specific biodiversity in the valley. The tugay forests in the reserve represent the largest and most intact tugay forest of this type in Central Asia, and this is the only place in the world where the Asiatic poplar tugay ecosystem has been preserved in its original state over an area of this size.

Iran - The Persian Caravanserai

"Caravanserais were roadside inns, providing shelter, food and water for caravans, pilgrims and other travellers. The routes and the locations of the caravanserais were determined by the presence of water, geographical conditions and security concerns. The fifty-six caravanserais of the property are only a small percentage of the numerous caravanserais built along the ancient roads of Iran. They are considered to be the most influential and valuable examples of the caravanserais of Iran, revealing a wide range of architectural styles, adaptation to climatic conditions, and construction materials, spread across thousands of kilometres and built over many centuries. Together, they showcase the evolution and network of caravanserais in Iran, in different historical stages."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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