ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Renovations at Erbil’s ancient citadel enter a new phase in March, the head of the renovation committee said Thursday, adding that it will focus on the main square and some of the houses as the deadline to complete the work nears.

“Recently, a joint agreement was signed between the Kurdistan Regional Government [KRG], Car Group, and UNESCO worth $10 million. The money was provided by the company and is intended to restore several archaeological houses on the castle for tourism purposes, [for] which UNESCO is supervising the implementation,” Yadgar Mohammed said, adding that work must be completed within the next five months.

The renovation, launched in October last year, is aimed at conserving and rehabilitating one of the most iconic World Heritage Sites in Iraq, being funded by KAR New Ventures Limited (KAR) with $10 million and supervised by UNESCO.

Erbil’s citadel is thought to be at least 6,000 years old. The structure now atop the mound created by previous settlements is a fortress built by the Ottoman Empire around the 18th and 20th centuries.

“Erbil Citadel is an imposing example of a multilayered archaeological mound still physically emerging from the surrounding landscape,” according to UNESCO, who designated the ancient building a World Heritage site in 2014.

The site covers 110,000 square metres and includes 506 houses, according to the KRG.

The four-year deal to renovate the fortress was made at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

“Through this partnership, which will be implemented over the next four years, UNESCO will lead the implementation of the project to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Erbil Citadel as a cultural, social, and economic hub, contributing to broader Sustainable Development Goals, including inclusive cities, decent work, and sustainable tourism,” UNESCO said in a statement at the time.