🔗 Share this article 19 Sep 2025 ‘Other countries might have conserved it’: Residents lament destruction of ancient earthen mansions When bulldozers entered Abdul Rahman Bin Sheikh al-Kaf’s earthen palace in Tarim and began demolishing its stunning architecture, billows of debris engulfed the site, attracting a large gathering. Haddad Musaied got a message from a friend urging him to witness the demolition. “As a journalist, you have a duty to halt what is occurring,” the contact stated. Once arriving the location in Tarim’s Aydid area, Musaied could only document with his device the disintegration of the formerly marvellous structure, which had survived storms and even war over the years. “This was heartbreaking to see Tarim’s heritage and legacy being quietly lost,” he states. The journalist shared his images on online platforms. His film reveals about half of the magnificent palace in ruins, unveiling the inside, including detailed ceilings, whitewashed pillars and carved windows. “Different nations would have preserved it, even if it was only three decades old,” he remarks. Unique Design Legacy Facing Threat The home was among thirty earthen mansions in Tarim, drawing many tourists. It was constructed between the world wars by wealthy members of the prominent family, traders who earned their fortune in Southeast Asia during the turn of the centuries. Mohammed al-Kaf blamed the national government for failing to finance repairs and mentioned that local residents had expressed concerns about the state of the building and potential harm to nearby residences if it were to collapse. “I hold responsible the government for not supporting us in preserving the palace,” he says. Artistic Significance and Neglect These Tarim buildings are one-of-a-kind, earthen and colorful, and notable for combining Yemeni Hadrami architecture with overseas elements, as noted by a cultural advocate of the a preservation group. “Craftsmen, artists, sculptors, painters, woodworkers and other artisans contributed their skills to the creation of splendid residences,” Rubaki explains. If these buildings collapse, Tarim’s history will be lost, as they are the area’s final living landmarks The city is also known as the stronghold of Islamic mysticism in the country and a historic hub for missionaries who spread Islam across the East, Africa and South Asia. In recognition of its valuable historical heritage, it was named the capital of Muslim civilization in the year 2010, initiating a short-lived effort by the Yemeni government to repaint and renovate some sites. In August, for its historical importance, the city was listed to the nation’s world heritage tentative list, a step to consideration for the protected sites list. Impact of Conflict and Deterioration Like other historical sites across the nation, the mansions of this city have suffered from over ten years of armed conflict, leaving them abandoned and unmaintained. Al-Kaf’s palace is the best-known, but not the only to be demolished; some have already been substituted with contemporary concrete buildings. Another site, rising dramatically in one of Tarim’s densely populated neighbourhoods, with curved balconies, ornate pillars and a symmetrical exterior, is also possessed by the al-Kaf family. On the brink of collapse, with decay visible in the structure, the property around it has been marked with land delineation stones, suggesting portions have been disposed of, heightening concerns for its future. Conflict closed another landmark, a further earthen site bearing visible damage of long periods of disrepair and exposure. It had been converted as a lodging, but part of its walls have collapsed, substituted by a corroded, drooping wire fence; its swimming pool is cracked and dry. Official Response and Challenges A representative of the General Authority for Antiquities and Museums, acknowledges the situation, stating that most of Tarim’s earthen palaces are in a “dilapidated state” and at danger of collapse. Bahamalah explains that his office, like other underfunded government agencies, has no resources to buy, lease or repair the palaces. Their primary role, he notes, is to communicate updates about the sites to higher authorities and advocate for their preservation. “We, like other government bodies facing challenges with limited resources, are working hard to save what can still be preserved – by providing updates to the relevant authorities and those who might help,” he concludes.