Omar AbdulAziz Hallaj's chapter in the book "Urban Heritage and The Politics of The Present" delves into the complex interplay of economic, social, and cultural factors in the conservation of urban heritage, focusing on Aleppo, Syria, and Shibam, Yemen. He explores the challenges in preserving urban heritage, particularly addressing the economic obsolescence of private heritage assets and the influence of socio-cultural constraints on individual stakeholders' decisions. This examination raises crucial questions about public intervention in heritage conservation and its impact on private stakeholders and the preservation of heritage itself.

Mr. Hallaj proposes an economic model to contextualize the decision-making process of private stakeholders, highlighting the balance between the use-value and market value of heritage properties. He points out that often, the preservation of heritage assets is driven by social obligations rather than economic profit, especially when their market value declines.

The chapter also examines the historical evolution of urban areas, particularly in Aleppo, where shifts in the city's focus and development can be traced back to the Ayoubid period. This historical perspective underscores the dynamic nature of urban heritage, challenging the romanticized notion of a fixed and stable urban tradition.

Mr. Hallaj emphasizes that the ideal model of periodic rehabilitation for sustained preservation is often unrealistic due to fluctuating market conditions and the complex realities of urban life. Owners of urban property are influenced by both expected profit from property sales and social obligations.

Discussing Aleppo's rehabilitation, Mr. Hallaj highlights the German-Syrian cooperation project aimed at preserving the old city as a living space, rather than merely a national symbol. The project faced challenges, including underfunding and the need for substantial public and private investment.

In Aleppo, public investment led to increased property values in some areas but also caused disparities in urban space valuation, affecting social fabric and heritage preservation. The case study reveals that supply-side state intervention can accelerate private land speculation and disrupt social networks, whereas demand-driven subsidies show slower results but positively impact community consolidation.

In contrast, Shibam's economic base is more rural, and its heritage preservation faced different challenges. The state's policies, including its socialist period, greatly influenced Shibam's valuation cycles. Shibam's designation as a World Heritage site brought national and international attention but also posed challenges in balancing modernization, cultural values, and heritage preservation.

The chapter concludes that in both Aleppo and Shibam, successful heritage preservation requires a negotiation of languages and values between residents, government, and technical experts. This negotiation fosters a new social consensus, blending official terminology with local dialect and market realities.