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Old Walled City of Shibam

Also known as Shibam, the Chicago of the desert, the Manhattan of the Middle East, the oldest skyscraper city in the world, شبام

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In preparation

A full profile of Old Walled City of Shibam is being written.

We're still writing the full guide to this site. The essential facts are below, and you can help by suggesting corrections or additions.

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Location

Where it sits, and what is around it

Old Walled City of Shibam is about 18 km west of Saywun. The nearest other World Heritage site is Ancient Saba, Marib, about 360 km away.

Nearest towns and cities

  • Saywun · about 69,000 peopleabout 18 km east
  • Al Mukalla · about 258,000 peopleabout 160 km south
  • Ash Shihr · about 54,000 peopleabout 170 km south-east
  • 'Ataq · about 37,000 peopleabout 250 km south-west
  • Al Ghaydah · about 27,000 peopleabout 380 km east
  • Al Bayda · about 38,000 peopleabout 390 km south-west
Old Walled City of ShibamSanaaTaizzNajranAl MukallaIbbDhamarSadahAsh ShihrRidaAl Bayda'AtaqAl GhaydahAncient Saba, Marib200 km
The site is ringed; towns and other World Heritage sites are shown for context.

Nearby World Heritage sites

The nearest neighbours, as the crow flies

Map of Old Walled City of Shibam and the 5 nearest World Heritage sitesAncient Saba, Marib1'Uruq Bani Ma'arid2Old City of Sana'a3Ḥimā Cultural Area4Qaryat al-Faw5Old Walled City of Shibam
Markers: square cultural, circle natural, diamond mixed.

Further resources

The official record, while our own profile is in hand

The official record

Trip reports

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Facts from open data: Wikidata (CC0)