Hadramout province is known for its historical walled city of Shibam, whose tight cluster of multistory buildings is suggestive of a modern metropolitan skyline. Set to begin on Monday and run through March 5, the event is coorganized by the Dowan Mud Brick Architecture Foundation, an NGO based in Dowan, and expected to attract leading architects from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Italy, Palestine, Mexico, Portugal, Lebanon, UK and US, among other countries.
Local experts and academics from seven universities will present papers.  The conference is expected to create a ground for discussion and opinion-sharing and information between international academics and architects and sharing expertise in the field of mud-brick architecture.
The conference will focus on the renovation and preservation of this distinct architectural heritage.