State of Qatar sponsors largest Yemen Archaeology expedition

Under the guidance of Project Director His Excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Muhammed bin Ali Al-Thani, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Qatar Museums Authority Board of Trustees, the workshop will finalise details of the expedition to Yemen, where fieldwork will begin October 2008.

With the aim of promoting Yemeni archaeological science and tourism, QIAYP Phase 1 will last five years until autumn 2012, with Qatar generously providing funds for excavation, restoration and publication of the expedition findings.

According to the plan, the project will make Yemeni heritage as world famous of Egypt, Peru and Mesopotamia. A second expedition is planned for a further five years, from 2012 until 2017.

Speaking at the workshop, H. E. Sheikh Hassan explained the urgent need to act now to protect Yemen's ancient sites: "Yemen is undergoing rapid development, and demographic expansion is encroaching on many historical sites. Among such rapid changes it is important to race time and save the country's antiquities - which represent the Arab civilisation of the Arabian peninsulal and its cultural heritage".

H.E. Sheikh Hassan spoke of the high importance and commitment the State of Qatar is placing on working together with the government of Yemen to protect the countries archaeology. He said, "H.H. The Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani has expressed his personal interest in sponsoring and supporting a project which is Qatar's contribution to protecting Yemen's archaeology. In this aim, The Emir is supported by The President of Yemen."

Guest of Honour at the Doha workshop is the Minister of Culture for the Republic of Yemen Dr. Mohammed A. Al-Maflahy. Qatar sees the sponsoring of Yemen archaeology as a key diplomatic means to cement relations between the two countries and integrate Yemen into the GCC.

Topics to be discussed at the workshop include excavation procedures and next steps and welcomed over 20 scholars from around the world to participate. The academics' input will drive the research activity and ensure excavation, survey, restoration and publication of the expedition are executed on the highest scientific level.

"Opening up the sites in Yemen to understand the historical and cultural importance of its age-old heritage and promote our findings for scientific disclosure are two important targets. Previous expeditions have been working in Yemen for 50 years. We hope to overcome the difficulties caused by climate, security and insufficient financial resources which have prevented earlier Yemeni expeditions reaching their targets," concluded H. E. Sheikh Hassan during his opening speech on the first day of the conference.