The Iraqi Ministry of Culture announced on Thursday that Arab kohl has been officially inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, describing it as a new recognition of the aesthetic richness of Iraqi heritage.

In a statement, the ministry said the inscription was part of a joint Arab effort to safeguard this ancient cultural practice. The file was submitted under Syria’s leadership, with the participation of Iraq, Oman, Palestine, Libya, and Jordan, during the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage held in New Delhi.

Shaimaa Mahmoud, the ministry’s representative and Director of the Center for the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage, emphasized that this recognition honors the communities that have preserved the traditional methods of preparing and using kohl, passing them down through generations with care and awareness, keeping the practice alive to this day.

The ministry explained that the adoption of the Arab kohl file stems from the belief that this practice is not merely cosmetic but a vital part of cultural identity and a reflection of the community’s aesthetic legacy. Its continuity, despite social changes and evolving lifestyles, underscores its deep-rooted presence in popular memory.

The statement concluded that the inclusion of Arab kohl on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list is not just documentation of a beauty product but a global acknowledgment of a longstanding cultural practice that embodies the identity and aesthetic sensibility of the community—a new step reflecting Iraq’s commitment to safeguarding its living heritage.