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Saudi Arabia Inscribes Cultural Practices Related to Taif Roses on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List

The move reflects Saudi Arabia's commitment to preserving intangible cultural heritage, ensuring its sustainability, and passing it on to future generations - SPA
The move reflects Saudi Arabia's commitment to preserving intangible cultural heritage, ensuring its sustainability, and passing it on to future generations - SPA
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Saudi Arabia Inscribes Cultural Practices Related to Taif Roses on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List

The move reflects Saudi Arabia's commitment to preserving intangible cultural heritage, ensuring its sustainability, and passing it on to future generations - SPA
The move reflects Saudi Arabia's commitment to preserving intangible cultural heritage, ensuring its sustainability, and passing it on to future generations - SPA

Saudi Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Heritage Commission Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan announced that Saudi Arabia has successfully inscribed "the cultural practices related to Taif roses" on the United Nations Economic, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Prince Badr stressed that the unlimited support provided by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the Saudi cultural sector has significantly boosted the global presence of Saudi culture. This registration, he added, reflects Saudi Arabia's commitment to preserving intangible cultural heritage, ensuring its sustainability, and passing it on to future generations, SPA reported.
The Taif rose joins other elements of Saudi intangible cultural heritage inscribed on the list, including Alardah, Majlis, Arabic coffee, falconry, Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, date palm, Sadu weaving, Arabic calligraphy, Alheda'a, Khawlani coffee, metal engraving, and the Harees dish.
Taif roses are a vital cultural and social element intertwined with the lives of the people of Taif. Their cultivation, which spans centuries, and processing are integral to daily activities, deeply reflected in the region's social and traditional practices. Community members gather in the rose fields to partake in the harvest, creating an opportunity for social interaction and the intergenerational transfer of agricultural wisdom.
Taif rose products, particularly rose water and essential oils, play a key role in social events and local traditions. The annual Taif Rose Festival serves as a vibrant celebration where residents and visitors come together to honor this rich heritage, allowing the local community to showcase its products and host events that emphasize pride in cultural identity.
The inscription of the Taif rose with UNESCO underscores its significance as a cherished aspect of Saudi culture and contributes to a global understanding of the intricate connections between cultural heritage and social practices. It aligns with the Heritage Commission's commitment to preserving this cultural legacy and promoting international cultural exchange, a key objective of the National Strategy for Culture under the framework of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

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Royal Commission for AlUla, China’s Dunhuang Academy Partner to Enhance Heritage Conservation, Cultural Exchange

RCU and Dunhuang Academy will work closely to develop a comprehensive program of conservation that will extend to historic sites and artefacts in western China and AlUla. - SPA
RCU and Dunhuang Academy will work closely to develop a comprehensive program of conservation that will extend to historic sites and artefacts in western China and AlUla. - SPA
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Royal Commission for AlUla, China’s Dunhuang Academy Partner to Enhance Heritage Conservation, Cultural Exchange

RCU and Dunhuang Academy will work closely to develop a comprehensive program of conservation that will extend to historic sites and artefacts in western China and AlUla. - SPA
RCU and Dunhuang Academy will work closely to develop a comprehensive program of conservation that will extend to historic sites and artefacts in western China and AlUla. - SPA

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and Dunhuang Academy​ have signed a strategic partnership to expand cultural, touristic, and heritage collaborations between Saudi Arabia and the People’s Republic of China.
According to an RCU press release issued on Wednesday, the partnership represents a pivotal milestone in Saudi-Chinese relations, bringing together Dunhuang Academy's eight decades of expertise in heritage research and cultural conservation with RCU's commitment to preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of AlUla.
The Dunhuang Academy is responsible for the management of the Magao Grottoes, a complex of 735 Buddhist caves in Gansu Province classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The Mogao Grottoes are renowned for their exquisite murals and sculptures, representing a fusion of cultural influences along the ancient Silk Road.
"The new agreement unites RCU and Dunhuang Academy as custodians of unique heritage, history, and tradition," said the release.
Dunhuang Academy’s legacy of safeguarding the Magao Grottoes has consistently earned praise from international institutions such as UNESCO, the World Bank, as well as the Chinese government, SPA reported.
RCU and Dunhuang Academy will work closely to develop a comprehensive program of conservation that will extend to historic sites and artefacts in western China and AlUla. They will also collaborate on hosting academic exhibitions and initiating exchange programs between staff and scholars from both institutions.
RCU VP of Strategic Partnerships Silvia Barbone said: “China and Saudi Arabia share a long and storied legacy that has united people and places across vast distances and through millennia. Today, our efforts within the global heritage space are empowered by successful collaborations with leading institutions and landmark destinations.”
The partnership follows the Saudi Travel Expo launched by the Saudi Tourism Authority, in which AlUla featured prominently. The exhibit was held in Beijing’s Tian Tan Garden, showcasing AlUla’s natural and cultural heritage.