Come along to the "Manhattan of the desert" where 1,700-year-old high-rise buildings tower

- The city of Shibam is from pre-Islamic times and is mentioned in the ancient Yemenite writings.

The city was an important destination for the trade in spices and incense, says Hassan Aidid from Yemen's Ministry of Culture.

The 1,700-year-old city was founded by wealthy merchants who built tall mud-brick houses to protect themselves from raids.

The skyscrapers have escaped the violent war that is shaking Yemen.

The buildings are famous for their unique architecture, which is why Shibam was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. However, the high-rises require constant maintenance and new layers of mud must be constantly added to prevent them from collapsing.

Watch as SVT follows the renovation in the clip above.