Based on a multilateral agreement signed by East Azarbaijan Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization, Tabriz Municipality, Tabriz Islamic Art University, and German Archeological Institute, archeologists are now carrying a new round study on the site, hoping to put the historical heritage on UNESCO’s list.

Back in 2016, researchers conducted the first chapter of an international project that laid the basic groundwork for UNESCO recognition of Rab’-e Rashidi.

Archaeological speculations, geophysical surveys, 3D laser scans, endoscopy of the ancient structure were among exertions carried out during the project.

Situated in the northwestern city of Tabriz, Rab’-e Rashidi was established during the reign of Ghazan, a ruler of the Ilkhanid dynasty. It embraces a paper factory, a library, a hospital (Dar-al-Shafa), a Quranic center (Dar-al-Quran), residential facilities for teachers, students’ quarters and a caravanserai amongst other facilities.

It is said that students from Iran, China, Egypt, and Syria studied in the complex under the supervision of physicians, intellectuals, scientists and Islamic scholars.