Prince Sultan bin Salman speaks during an interview, in this Dec. 18, 2013 file photo, in Houston.

Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), announced this week the Council of Ministers’ approval for the registration of another 10 Saudi heritage sites in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in the coming years.

According to him, SCTA is seeking through this initiative to preserve the rich, diverse, historical and archaeological heritage of the Kingdom and make them known to the world. It also aims to rehabilitate these sites according to the standards of specialized international organizations.

A statement released by SCTA on Saturday listed the 10 sites as: Rock Arts in Be’er Huma, Alfao village in Riyadh, Al-Ahsa Oasis, Haj Road for Egyptians, Alshami Haj Road, Darb Zubaydah, the Hejaz Railway, Al-Der’e District in Jandal, Zee Ain village in Baha and the Rijal Almaa heritage village in Asir.

Prince Sultan expressed his thanks to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for the approval which is significant in the context of his interest to uphold heritage and national civilization and the great support provided by the government.

He said the selected heritage sites encapsulate the history of the Kingdom and highlight its cultural and historical legacy as a source of successive civilizations and ancient trade routes.

“This is part of an integrated initiative within the King Abdullah projects aimed to preserve the cultural heritage adopted by King Abdullah. It is based on the national heritage projects and the definition of the historical value of these sites,” Prince Sultan added.

It is noteworthy that the SCTA was able to register three Saudi sites in the UNESCO list in recognition of the cultural, historical and cultural value of these sites, including Madain Saleh in 2008, Dir’iya in 2010, and the historical site in Jeddah this year.

 
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