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     After world war II, the concept of conservation of historical areas has extended beyond its conventional meaning of restoration, preservation, and operations of monuments. It evolved to include broader meanings of renovation, enhancement, upgrading of the monuments surrounding areas, monuments rehabilitation, and even the policy of how to build new structures adjacent to historic and monumental sites             .

     This research explores some experiments from Arab countries. It focusses on three countries: Morocco in the West, Kuwait in the east, and Egypt in the middle. Two cases are selected from each country: one representing the conventional application of the conservation process where monuments were subject to restoration and preservation. The other represents the new concept of conservation where renovation and upgrading of the whole areas took place and new constructions were inspired by the historical surrounding.                                                         

     The research draws on diverse examples, i.e., an old historical city, Fes, and a small coastal village, Asilah, in Morocco; domestic buildings and a newly designed Childrens park in Cairo; and from Kuwait, the old city gates and the new Suk al-Kuwait.                                                                            

     Key words: Conservation of historical area, Conservation philosophy, ungrading of historical area surroundings, restoration and preservation, renovation and enhancement, rehabilitation and monuments re-allocation.