Nomination of the Aden Peninsula as a Geopark
The Yemeni National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science (UNESCO) organized a special workshop to support the nomination of the Aden Peninsula as a Geopark, under the patronage of the Minister of Education and Chairman of the Yemeni National Commission for UNESCO, Mr. Tariq Salem Al-Akbari, and the Governor of Aden and Minister of State, Mr. Ahmed Hamed Lamlas.
The workshop was attended by the Chairman of the General Investment Authority, Eng. Ali Ahmed Garhoum, along with a group of experts and scientists. The aim was to support the project of nominating the Aden Peninsula as a Geopark, with support from the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), and in coordination with the Yemeni National Commission for Geoparks.
During the opening session, Mr. Awad Mubjer, Deputy Governor of Aden for Educational Affairs, emphasized the importance of the project in promoting tourism and securing a significant position among Arab and foreign countries.
Dr. Hafidha Saleh Nasser Al-Sheikh, Secretary-General of the Yemeni National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, stressed the need to complete the nomination file with the support of local authorities and relevant institutions, and to intensify efforts to include the Aden Peninsula in the Global Geoparks Network.
Dr. Amin Al-Dhamani, ALECSO Project Coordinator, revealed ALECSO’s initiative to establish a network of Arab parks, which will include all natural parks in the Arab world.
The workshop included several scientific papers, most notably a paper by Dr. Fawaz Abdullah Bahameesh, Chairman of the National Committee for Geoparks, two papers by Dr. Ahmed Niazi Al-Barqouqi, a member of the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO and the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, and a paper by Dr. Jamal Bawazir, member of the Yemeni National Commission, on the natural heritage of the Aden Peninsula.
The workshop was held at the Panorama Hotel in Khormaksar District, Aden, from September 30 to October 1, 2025.