Sidi Bou Saïd on the Verge of UNESCO Recognition
Sidi Bou Saïd’s application for inscription upon the UNESCO world heritage site list is scheduled to be submitted in Paris in July 2026, reports Tunisie Numerique on September 15.
The picturesque blue-and-white village just 20 miles north of Tunis is on the verge of receiving international recognition for its cultural and historical significance.
The process to get Sidi Bou Saïd global recognition has been underway since February 2025 where an initial proposal titled “The Village of Sidi Bou Saïd: A Hub of Cultural and Spiritual Inspiration in the Mediterranean” was submitted.
The proposal was signed and finalised and is now ready for review by the World Heritage Committee in 2026.
An extended working session at the ministry of cultural affairs brought together experts from 7 different institutions – including minister Amina Srarfi, Tunis Governor Imed Boukhris, the National Heritage Institute (INP) amongst others – all working together to ensure Sidi Bou Saïd will receive the recognition it deserves.
The UNESCO application process is highly rigorous. It is hugely important to thoroughly document a site’s authenticity and outstanding universal value as these are the cornerstones of an application to UNESCO.
The minister Amina Srarfi highlighted the sites architectural and musical heritage which provide the backbone for the case to the World Heritage Committee.
Sidi Bou Saïd holds great importance as it’s a site where a history dating back to the 18th century, a codified architectural style, unique panoramas over Carthage and the Gulf of Tunis and a rich legacy of inspiring numerous artists, creators and travellers all converge upon cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Ocean.
If Sidi Bou Saïd receives international recognition, tourism in the area is predicted to be greatly boosted, providing the local economy with greater gains, and conservation efforts in the area will receive more financial and planning support.
At the end of August, the Tunisian government introduced new legislation that hopes to bolster the tourist economy, including making applications to register accommodation as guesthouses easier to implement.
International eyes have already been drawn to Sidi Bou Saïd this month as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla anchored around its port prior to heading to Gaza.
Tunisie Numerique, Maghrebi.org
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