On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, Dr. Mohammed Jumeh, Yemen's ambassador to UNESCO, announced that the organization has officially included the file "Henna: Rituals, Social Practices, and Aesthetics" from Yemen in the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ambassador Jumeh explained that this inclusion was part of a joint Arab file submitted by several Arab countries. He noted that the file was approved during the nineteenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in the capital of Paraguay.

Jumeh congratulated the team that worked on the file, as well as the experts from the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) who supervised its preparation, and the participating countries.

Yemeni henna is a fine powder made from the leaves of the henna tree, which is cultivated in Yemen. It is distinguished by its pure composition, free from chemicals. Henna is one of the oldest natural elements used for body art with vibrant temporary colors and for dyeing hair. Additionally, it is recognized as a natural remedy for treating fever and reducing body temperature.