Stunning desert metropolis with mud skyscrapers facing existential threat | World | News
A stunning 16th century city hidden in a desolate stretch of desert in Yemen has been a source of wonder for centuries.
The Walled City of Shibam is thought to be the oldest city in the world to use vertical construction, and had once been an important caravan stop on the southern Arabian plateau’s incense and spice route, according to National Geographic.
The lines of imposing towers, appearing like a mirage at the edge of part of the desert known as the Empty Quarter led British explorer Freya Stark to brand it the “Manhattan of the Desert”.
But unlike the steel and stone skyscrapers the Big Apple is famous for, Shibam was constructed using a suprising material – mud bricks.
But though the appearance of the buildings, which rise to as much as seven stories high, is impressive in its own right, the reason for constructing such a tall skyline was deeply practical.
The city’s place on top of a rock basement, high above the river valley of Wadi Hadramawt, had protected it from flooding whilst being close enough to it to use it as a primary water source and support its agriculture.
The vantage point offered by buildings, as well as a fortified wall meant also meant residents could be kept safe from rival tribes and enemies could be seen heading towards the imposing fortifications from a distance.
But in modern times, the epic fortress is facing serious threats. In 2015, Shibam was among important sites added to the World Heritage in Danger after civil war erupted in Yemen the year before.
Yemen’s economy collapsed in the fighting, leading to what UN described worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
The city is now struggling because it is in constant need of repair amid rains and floods.
Back in 2020, Abdulwahab Jaber, a local official in the town told Al Jazeera. “The city looks like it was hit by a disaster – without precedent.”
He said at the time that at least four of the town’s towers have been destroyed with 15 others damaged in by recent floods, as per the outlet.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2024 included government-funded projects have ceased due to the ongoing conflict, placing a burden on the local site management as well as damage to buildings, vulnerability of building materials, ongoing inability of the community to undertake restoration and maintenance work owing to conflict, and government resource constraints, as per the UNESCO website.
