Cleveland Museum of Art · CC0 1.0The four States of the region
This page presents the Middle Eastern States that are members of OIMAP: Jordan, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, ranked by year of accession.
Each State has one vote in the General Assembly, regardless of its size or contribution.
For the overview, see the list of the 67 States or return to the Middle East section.
Member countries of the Middle East in figures
Source: Member States Relations Directorate.
Jordan, a founding State
Jordan has been a member since 2007 and a signatory of the founding act. For a long time it was the region's sole representative within the Organization.
Its focal point has taken part in the plenary meetings since the beginning and supports the new members.
Lebanon's accession
Lebanon joined in 2023, at the end of the standard procedure: official application, technical review, General Assembly vote by a two-thirds majority and a twelve-month probationary period (indicative).
It immediately designated its focal point and requested legal assistance.
The 2024 accessions
The United Arab Emirates and Qatar joined the Organization in 2024. These two States, where the art market is developing rapidly, bring the number of members in the region to four.
They are still in their integration period and receive special monitoring.
Complementary profiles
The four States do not share the same priorities: protecting sites and combating trafficking for some, structuring a sales market and fairs for others.
This complementarity fosters exchanges within the region.
List by year of accession
| State | Year of accession | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan | 2007 | Founder |
| Lebanon | 2023 | Member |
| United Arab Emirates | 2024 | Member |
| Qatar | 2024 | Member |
Milestones
- Jordan
Founding State.
- Lebanon
Accession.
- United Arab Emirates
Accession.
- Qatar
Accession.
One vote per State
Founder and new members
Founder
Jordan- Member since 2007
- Experience of the bodies
- Support for new members
A reference role.
Recent accessions
Lebanon, Emirates, Qatar- Setting up the mechanisms
- Technical Assistance
- Integration under way
A need for support.
Finding a State's information
- Locate
The State in the list.
- Note
Its year of accession.
- Open
Its country profile.
- Consult
The directory of focal points.
- Write
In Geneva if needed.
Before contacting a State
A focal point from the region
« Accession opened a worldwide network to us. For a young member, it is invaluable. »
Glossary of accessions
- Founding State
- Signatory of the 2007 act.
- Vote
- Voting right in the General Assembly.
- Probationary period
- Twelve months (indicative).
- Country profile
- Summary on a State.
Contacting a Member State
Each State has a focal point, titled "Heritage Directorate — country". The full directory is available in the members' area.
If no contact details are available, write to the Geneva office, which will direct your request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Middle Eastern countries are members?
Jordan, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Who is a founder?
Jordan.
When did the Emirates join?
In 2024.
Where can all the members be seen?
Useful Documents
Contacts
Related pages
Middle EastFour Member States in the Middle East, followed from the Geneva office, and cooperation programmes focused on heritage and sales.›
In alphabetical orderQuickly find a Member State with the alphabetical list of the 67 countries, with region and year of accession.›
Country profile contactsThe practical part of the country profiles: heritage department, national focal point, languages of correspondence and opening hours.›
Focal points directoryContact details of the sixty-seven focal points, available to logged-in members, with their organisation and rules of use.›
View the directory of focal points
Image credits (17)
- Qur'an Manuscript Folio (800s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Head of Bearded Banqueter (525–500 BCE) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Bath Pail (Satl) (c. 1580–1610) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Miniature Mountain with Daoist Paradise (1736–95) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Wall Tile (1600s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Egypt and Nubia: Volume I - No. 4, Slave Boats on the Nile, View Looking Towards the Pyramids of Dashour and Saccara, Louis Haghe (1838) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Gold-Thread Embroidered Cover (1800s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Red-Figure Column Krater (Mixing Vessel): Satyrs Pursuing Maenads, Naples Painter (440–430 BCE) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Wall Tile (1600s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Tent panel of a dragon slayer (1550–99) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Vase, Firm of Ferdinand Barbedienne (c. 1862) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Small Mosque in the Kaiserbagh, Felice A. Beato (1858) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Relief of Three Offering Bearers (c. 2311–2281 BCE) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- View of Venice, Jacopo de' Barbari (1500) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- The Doge's Palace, Venice, Richard Parkes Bonington (1826) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Portrait of a Woman, Gerard ter Borch (c. 1665) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Vue générale prise à l'angle sud-ouest, Philoe, Maxime Du Camp (1849–50) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0