Royal Commission for AlUla Signs Cooperation Agreement with Jordan’s Petra National Trust

The Royal Commission for AlUla has signed a cooperation agreement with Jordan’s Petra National Trust to enhance the sustainable protection of ancient monuments. SPA
The Royal Commission for AlUla has signed a cooperation agreement with Jordan’s Petra National Trust to enhance the sustainable protection of ancient monuments. SPA
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Royal Commission for AlUla Signs Cooperation Agreement with Jordan’s Petra National Trust

The Royal Commission for AlUla has signed a cooperation agreement with Jordan’s Petra National Trust to enhance the sustainable protection of ancient monuments. SPA
The Royal Commission for AlUla has signed a cooperation agreement with Jordan’s Petra National Trust to enhance the sustainable protection of ancient monuments. SPA

The Royal Commission for AlUla has signed a cooperation agreement with Jordan’s Petra National Trust to enhance the sustainable protection of ancient monuments and encourage community participation in preserving landmarks of historical significance.
The agreement, signed in the Hegra area of AlUla, is part of a shared effort by both sides to care for and preserve their common human heritage. AlUla and Petra are both centers of the Nabatean civilization, which flourished in these areas.
The agreement includes the exchange of knowledge, skills, visits, and tours, as well as promoting education and community engagement in history, human heritage, and heritage preservation. It also explores new opportunities related to future strategies.
Both AlUla and Petra reflect the cultural creativity and architectural mastery of the ancient Nabateans. The Darb al-Bakrah route, which connects Hegra to Petra, reveals numerous inscriptions in languages such as Arabic and Nabatean, highlighting its significance and vital role in the area.
The agreement supports the Ruwat program, launched by the Royal Commission for AlUla, which offers cooperative training for citizens of AlUla.
Under the agreement, the Petra National Trust joins the commission's international partner network, which includes organizations such as UNESCO, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). These organizations contribute to preserving cultural and natural heritage.
This agreement further enhances partnerships with various Jordanian sectors, such as Royal Jordanian Airlines, which operates flights to AlUla, and Khammash Architects, part of the design and construction team developing the Sidrat AlUla project.



Saudi Cultural Sector Sees Growth Across Various Fields

The Riyadh International Book Fair 2023 (SPA)
The Riyadh International Book Fair 2023 (SPA)
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Saudi Cultural Sector Sees Growth Across Various Fields

The Riyadh International Book Fair 2023 (SPA)
The Riyadh International Book Fair 2023 (SPA)

A recent report on Saudi Arabia’s cultural sector shows that 2023 saw significant growth in cultural activities, including theater, film, and performance arts.
This growth is attributed to strong support and empowerment within the sector.
“The Cultural Status in Saudi Arabia 2023” report by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Culture noted that 2023 was marked by steady, gradual development rather than a sudden burst of activity.
The cultural sector has been growing steadily, reflecting the long-term impact of institutional efforts that began a few years ago.
Saudi Arabia’s cultural sector, as per the report, has grown its economic contribution by over 20%.
The sector has recovered well from the pandemic’s impact, with its contribution reaching 35 billion riyals, or 1.49% of non-oil GDP, almost back to pre-pandemic levels.
The report also revealed increased cultural activity and rising demand for cultural services and products, and highlighted promising prospects for turning cultural projects into financially successful and sustainable ventures.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia’s publishing and translation sectors had mixed results.
Literary publishing and Saudi authors’ publication rates fell to their lowest since 2019. However, Saudi authors’ international publications increased, making up 22% of the year’s literary output.
Research and scientific publishing hit a four-year high, with 405 papers in peer-reviewed journals.
Of these, 82% were by researchers from Saudi universities. International research made up 36% of contributions, while independent researchers added 7%.
The report identified several challenges requiring more effort, centered around comprehensive sustainability.
These include balancing economic, social, and environmental factors, such as addressing geographic centralization, uneven distribution of cultural activities, and ensuring equitable access for all social groups.
There is also a need for better regulations to boost investment in the cultural sector.
A major environmental challenge is protecting cultural and natural heritage from climate change.
The report highlighted the growing recognition of climate change’s threat to heritage sites and the need for proactive steps to preserve these valuable cultural and historical sites.