New Laws of Commercial Registration and Trade Names take effect on Thursday    Civil Defense warns of heavy rains across Saudi Arabia until Monday    Saudi Exchange suspends trading of seven companies over financial disclosure delays    New fleet of 76 public transport buses starts operation in Jeddah on Tuesday Environmentally friendly electric buses introduced for first time    Foreign investors are allowed to engage in real estate business outside Makkah and Madinah Commercial speculation should not be the purpose of real estate transaction    EU preparing 'further countermeasures' to protect its interest, von der Leyen says    Tesla sales plunge after backlash against Elon Musk    Musk's X is suing India, as Tesla and Starlink plan entry    Israel announces expansion of military operation in Gaza to seize 'large areas' of land    US cancels visa of Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias    Danish prime minister refutes US claim on Greenland on visit to the Arctic territory    Aubameyang fires Al Qadsiah into King's Cup final with stoppage-time winner over Al Raed    Cristiano Ronaldo joins Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves    Saudi Arabia welcomes trilateral border treaty between Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan    Swedish table tennis legend Jörgen Persson appointed head coach of Saudi national team    Danilo Pereira fires Al Ittihad into King's Cup final with dramatic stoppage-time double    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Bringing historical sites to life
By Amal Al-Sibai
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 17 - 11 - 2011


Saudi Gazette
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has a vision to revive the Kingdom's forgotten yet astounding archeological and historical sites. Part of this vision is transforming neglected areas into attractive, busy places, buzzing with life.
Saudi nationals and expat residents will walk through these historical sites, visit these places on the weekend, enjoy their time, and learn about the past. Citizens, volunteers, university students, the government, and the private sector will work hand in hand in projects aimed at preserving and restoring these places that have much significance in the founding of this country.
Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, the President of the SCTA, was one of the guest speakers and sponsors of the conference and awards ceremony for the proposed projects that will honor and preserve the architectural heritage in the Kingdom.
Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, graced the event with his presence as well.
In an address to the audience and participants of Tuesday's event at King Abdul Aziz University, Prince Sultan Bin Salman said: “The government is going to fund and give loans to many investors to restore important historical sites. We are now living in an advanced era and in a developed country, and we are trying to make up for the destruction and negligence of historical sites that might have occurred in previous years.”
“One of the most important milestones to overcome in restoring the nation's architectural heritage is changing the younger generation's view and perception.
The issue is not simply about restructuring or a yearning for the past; rather it is showing loyalty to the locations from which this great, unified, and solid country was established. In fact, 80 percent of Saudi citizens have never visited about 80 percent of their country's different regions,” said Prince Sultan.
With increased awareness and better funding and by rewarding universities and institutes that take part in archeological restoration and drawing the interest of the general public, the scene is sure to change.
“Although in recent years interest in the architectural heritage of the Kingdom was marginal and distant, today it is a realized dream, with all thanks to Allah. Is it logical to erase a country's history, successes, and blessings so that they reside only in textbooks and children's stories? It is very promising to see King Abdul Aziz University, King Saud University, and many others adopting projects in the restoration of archeological and historical sites. We are changing these sites from wasted, misused places to places that bring us pride as a nation,” Prince Sultan added.
Meanwhile, another local event that is drawing much attention to the beauty and investment potential of restoring the architectural heritage of the Kingdom kicked off Monday at the Red Sea Mall and will continue until Friday.
An exhibition at the mall displays professional photographs and the artwork and creations of 100 gifted artists in stone sculpting, wood work, pottery, and clay. Fun activities targeted towards children are also available under the theme of “color and play”.
According to the Executive Director of the Jeddah branch of the SCTA, Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al-Amri, one of the top priorities of architectural heritage restoration projects in the Kingdom's near future will be the Balad or historic Jeddah area.
Al-Amri said that the old Jeddah area is one of the most distinguished and important historical sites in the Arabian Peninsula. The area comprises 400 buildings and monuments, many of which are over 500 years old.
“The old Jeddah area holds a treasure rich in historic landmarks, buildings, and archeological sites that must be properly protected and maintained. Discussions are underway for trying again to apply to UNESCO to consider old Jeddah as a world heritage site,” said Al


Clic here to read the story from its source.