The president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities has announced that the Kingdom plans to develop historic Islamic sites, including those in Makkah and Medina.
Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Commission, said that the project would be carried out in consultation with Islamic scholars and archaeologists. He added that the project had been backed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Prince Salam.
“A number of prominent Islamic scholars have expressed their desire to visit archaeological sites in the Kingdom and last week two members of the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars visited Madain Saleh in Al-Ula,” he said, adding that SCTA would encourage such visits,” Prince Sultan said during the First Conference of Archaeology and Tourism in Al Ula.
The three-day conference at Taibah University’s Al-Ula campus was organised by the university in association with SCTA.
“It has a cultural dimension as these heritage sites reflect the great contributions made by the people of Arabian Peninsula to human civilization over the years and the Kingdom’s heritage is part and parcel of world heritage,” he added.
The conference aims at highlighting the cultural role of the people of Al-Ula, review appropriate means of preserving its cultural heritage and discuss practical experience and examples of sustainable development in archaeology and tourism.
Al Ula is considered to be one of the most important Islamic sites in the Kingdom, with a number of historical mosques and archaeological sites. Prince Sultan said that there were plans afoot to develop 120 sites, establish regional and local museums and preserve Islamic heritage sites related to Makkah, Medinah, The Prophet (PBUH) and Caliphs.
“We’ll also transform historical palaces and government buildings into cultural centres,” he added.
Saudi Arabia had previously come under criticism for moves to bulldoze certain heritage sites to make way for the expansion of the Grand Mosque in Makkah.