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Saudi Arabia’s Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve Joins UNESCO World Heritage List

The decision to add the reserve to the list was taken during the extended 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh between September 10 and 25. SPA
The decision to add the reserve to the list was taken during the extended 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh between September 10 and 25. SPA
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Saudi Arabia’s Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve Joins UNESCO World Heritage List

The decision to add the reserve to the list was taken during the extended 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh between September 10 and 25. SPA
The decision to add the reserve to the list was taken during the extended 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh between September 10 and 25. SPA

The Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve in Saudi Arabia has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud said.

Prince Bader is also Chairman of the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and Chairman of the Heritage Commission.

The decision to add the reserve to the list was taken during the extended 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh between September 10 and 25.

This marks the Kingdom’s first UNESCO Natural Heritage Site on the list.

The minister congratulated Saudi Arabia’s leadership and emphasized commitment to the conservation of natural heritage and the sustainable development of natural heritage.

The commitment highlights the importance of natural heritage and its strategic importance to Saudi Vision 2030, he said.

“The inscription of the Reserve on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the first Natural Heritage Site in the Kingdom contributes to highlighting the importance of natural heritage on a global scale and reflects the outstanding value of the Reserve,” Prince Bader said.

Situated along the western edge of ar-Rub al-Khali (The Empty Quarter), Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve occupies an area of over 12,750 km2 and is the only major sand desert in tropical Asia and the largest continuous sand sea on Earth.

With a world-class panorama of the sands of the Empty Quarter and some of the world’s largest complex linear dunes, Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve embodies outstanding universal value. It is an exceptional showcase of the environmental and biological evolution of flora and fauna in Saudi Arabia and provides vital natural habitats for the survival of more than 120 indigenous plant species, as well as endangered animals living in harsh environments, including gazelles and the only free-ranging herd of Arabian Oryx in the world.

Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve fulfills the World Heritage standards as a sand desert that embodies outstanding universal value and forms a unique and diverse landscape. The reserve contains a range of extensive natural habitats vital to the survival of key species and includes five sub-groups of the Kingdom's national ecosystems, which is vital to maintaining the site's biodiversity.

The inscription of the Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve adds to the six other Saudi UNESCO sites, which are Al-Ahsa Oasis, Al-Hijr Archaeological Site, At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah, Ḥimā Cultural Area, Historic Jeddah, and Rock Art in the Hail Region.

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DCT Abu Dhabi Launches House of Artisans Design Competition

The competition aims to celebrate the rich heritage of traditional Emirati handicrafts and the artisans behind them. WAM
The competition aims to celebrate the rich heritage of traditional Emirati handicrafts and the artisans behind them. WAM
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DCT Abu Dhabi Launches House of Artisans Design Competition

The competition aims to celebrate the rich heritage of traditional Emirati handicrafts and the artisans behind them. WAM
The competition aims to celebrate the rich heritage of traditional Emirati handicrafts and the artisans behind them. WAM

House of Artisans, an initiative under The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) which is dedicated to preserving the UAE's rich heritage of craftmanship, has announced an exciting open call for UAE-based designers, creative studios, and design students.

Sponsored by Mubadala, the House of Artisans Design Competition offers a platform for emerging designers and artists in the UAE to showcase their creativity, with the winning design prominently displayed at Mubadala's Headquarters, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported Thursday.

This unique opportunity invites participants to draw inspiration from the time-honored traditions fostered by House of Artisans, where the skills of Emirati craft have been passed down through generations and are kept alive through training courses, educational workshops, and community events.

The competition aims to celebrate the rich heritage of traditional Emirati handicrafts and the artisans behind them while harnessing innovation in art and furniture design. Mubadala Foundation’s sponsorship of this first edition underscores a shared commitment to support local talent, WAM said.

Participants will work with artisans and handicraft professionals in creating designs that merge the past and present through intricate craftsmanship and contemporary design. Submissions are open until February 9.

Entries can be submitted across the three categories of Art, Furniture Design, and Product Design. For the Art category, participants can submit paintings, sculptures, or any other visual artwork embodying the essence of traditional handicrafts in a contemporary context.

In the Furniture Design category, submissions can include original furniture designs, such as chairs, tables, light fixtures and more, that reflect a blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern aesthetics. For the Product Design category, submissions can include unique products under the theme of ‘everyday household items’, including ceramics, tableware, and accessories.

From the initial pool of applicants, twenty candidates will be shortlisted for a tailored design development program, culminating in the selection of eight winners.

Submissions will be evaluated in a blind-judging process by a panel of experts from art, design, traditional handicrafts, and educational fields, alongside key members from House of Artisans and Mubadala Foundation. To select the winners from each category, entries will be judged based on selection criteria including creativity, craftsmanship, innovation, relevance to the theme, and overall artistic and design merit.