Residents welcome UNSECO title in Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said
Residents of coastal village Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia are delighted with UNESCO title, Africa news reports on August 13th.
On July 26th 2026, the village was marked as a world heritage site after UN officials met in South Korea for the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee. Sidi Bou Said alongside several Japanese villages were inscribed onto the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)’s list.
Renowned for its stunning blue and white architecture and views of the Mediterranean Sea, Sidi Bou Said was named after and constructed around the shrine of 13th century Sufi saint Abu Said al-Baji.
The scholars set up a sanctuary that was the bedrock of the village’s spiritual community. The High Café of Sidi Bou Said is a well known meeting place for the sufi orders in Tunisia.
Ridha Shili, an advisor to the Tunisian cultural authorities and a heriage professor said that 4.5 million tourists visit the village annually according to Malay Mail.
Ahmed Achouilia, an Iraqi tour guide described the village as “the face of Tunisia” and it’s world heritage status makes it “something important in global tourism”. Achouilia also stated that “anyone who goes to Tunisia should visit Sidi Bou Said”. A tourist from Syria, Yassine Rhimi describes the landscape as “the most beautiful village in Tunisia”.
The community’s residents say they are grateful to live there, with Aymen Ghmrasni saying “I know many foreigners and Tunisians who come from different regions specifically to visit Sidi Bou Said. Everyone envies us for having it. They tell us we are lucky to have this village.”
Each year the UNESCO World Heritage Committee consisting of 21 representatives from the States Parties to the Convention inscribe more global sites onto their list. A key aim is to give countries more support and professional training to preserve and maintain these locations.
Africanews, Maghrebi.org, Malay Mail
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