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Asaan, King Abdulaziz Foundation Strengthen Collaboration in Preserving Saudi Heritage 

Officials sign the MoU on Monday. (SPA)
Officials sign the MoU on Monday. (SPA)
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Asaan, King Abdulaziz Foundation Strengthen Collaboration in Preserving Saudi Heritage 

Officials sign the MoU on Monday. (SPA)
Officials sign the MoU on Monday. (SPA)

The Misk Heritage Museum (Asaan), supported by the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk), signed on Monday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), the national institution dedicated to preserving and promoting the history and heritage of Saudi Arabia.

The MoU aims to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations in support of national efforts to safeguard and celebrate the Kingdom's cultural legacy and pass it on to future generations, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

The five-year MoU aims to boost collaboration in the fields of historical documentation, conservation and restoration of artifacts, knowledge exchange, and capacity building for Saudi talent in the heritage sector.

Asaan and Darah will explore opportunities for cooperation in historical documentation, with Darah providing supporting content and oral histories to help shape Asaan's exhibition storylines. Darah will also offer advisory expertise and technical support in the conservation, restoration, binding, and digitization of historical materials.

The two institutions will collaborate on training and professional development programs for Asaan's staff and will jointly develop educational initiatives for children and youth in coordination with Darah's "Antame" program, which introduces younger generations to the Kingdom's historical, geographic, and cultural depth through modern digital tools.

"The partnership with Darah marks a pivotal step in our mission to preserve Saudi Arabia's national heritage," said Asaan Chief Executive Khaled Al-Saqer. "It aligns with our vision of fostering meaningful and strategic collaborations with leading national institutions across the cultural sector."

"Darah's expertise in documentation, evaluation, and preservation will enrich the narratives presented in our exhibitions and strengthen the capabilities of our team," Al-Saqer added. "Ultimately, this will enhance the quality of experiences we offer our visitors and advance Asaan's mission to keep heritage alive, inspiring all generations to engage with it, protect it, and carry it forward."

Darah Chief Executive Turki Al-Shuwaier said the signing of the MoU with Asaan is part of unifying efforts to serve the history and heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

It also reflects the importance of integration between cultural institutions in the Kingdom in a way that contributes to strengthening national identity, highlighting the diversity and richness of Saudi culture and heritage, and inspiring future generations to carry this responsibility with a creative and conscious spirit, he noted.

Other areas of cooperation include the joint review and verification of Asaan's public programming and marketing content, along with expert evaluation and description of artifacts in the museum's collection.

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Culture

Saudi Arabia Concludes Participation at Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair

Through its pavilion, Saudi Arabia presented an integrated cultural showcase combining literature, arts, heritage, and knowledge. (SPA)
Through its pavilion, Saudi Arabia presented an integrated cultural showcase combining literature, arts, heritage, and knowledge. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Concludes Participation at Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair

Through its pavilion, Saudi Arabia presented an integrated cultural showcase combining literature, arts, heritage, and knowledge. (SPA)
Through its pavilion, Saudi Arabia presented an integrated cultural showcase combining literature, arts, heritage, and knowledge. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia's Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission concluded the Kingdom’s participation as guest of honor at the 2026 Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair, held from May 29 to June 7.

Through its pavilion, led by the commission, Saudi Arabia presented an integrated cultural showcase combining literature, arts, heritage, and knowledge.

The diverse program included literary and cultural seminars, alongside artistic and performance displays, traditional crafts, heritage fashion, rare manuscripts, and replica artifacts.

Activities also extended to public spaces and shopping centers across Kuala Lumpur to broaden cultural outreach, in addition to hosting the Saudi Dinner Night, which brought together senior officials, diplomats, intellectuals, and media figures.

The Saudi pavilion highlighted the Kingdom’s growing cultural movement in literature, publishing, and translation, with contributions from several national entities, presenting a rich image of Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape that was praised by visitors and participating institutions.

Culture

Students Discover 1,800-Year-Old Roman Villa Beneath School Gym

Students' curiosity uncovered what had lain hidden beneath the earth for centuries. (Special Superintendency of Rome)
Students' curiosity uncovered what had lain hidden beneath the earth for centuries. (Special Superintendency of Rome)
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Students Discover 1,800-Year-Old Roman Villa Beneath School Gym

Students' curiosity uncovered what had lain hidden beneath the earth for centuries. (Special Superintendency of Rome)
Students' curiosity uncovered what had lain hidden beneath the earth for centuries. (Special Superintendency of Rome)

Archaeologists in Rome have uncovered the remains of a luxury Roman residence dating to the second century CE beneath a high school near the Colosseum, after students' curiosity about mysterious underground rooms led to a formal excavation of the site.

According to Live Science, students at Liceo Scientifico Cavour, located just steps from the Colosseum, had long shared stories about hidden chambers beneath the school's gymnasium. What began as rumors ultimately led to a remarkable archaeological discovery.

During unofficial explorations of the underground spaces, students came across evidence of an ancient structure beneath the school.

After informing a teacher, who alerted the relevant authorities, archaeologists were called in to investigate the site. Excavations carried out earlier this year revealed that the dark passageways and partially lit rooms formed part of an elaborate Roman residence dating back nearly 1,800 years.

Liceo Scientifico Cavour occupies a building near the Colosseum that originally served as the headquarters of a Catholic missionary organization. When the complex was constructed in the late nineteenth century, preliminary excavation work uncovered part of an ancient domus, the term used for a large Roman urban residence.

The area is among the most historically significant parts of ancient Rome. Prominent figures including Cicero, Pompey and Octavian, later known as Augustus, are known to have lived there. Yet the district remains only partially understood by archaeologists because layers of modern construction cover much of the ancient landscape.

Researchers say the discovery offers a rare opportunity to study a section of ancient Rome that has remained largely inaccessible, while shedding new light on the city's residential life during the height of the Roman Empire.

Culture

Saudi, Malaysian Translation Associations Sign MoU to Promote Cultural Exchange

The MoU aims to enhance cooperation in the fields of translation and publishing, promote cultural and knowledge exchange, and support scientific and academic efforts of mutual interest. SPA
The MoU aims to enhance cooperation in the fields of translation and publishing, promote cultural and knowledge exchange, and support scientific and academic efforts of mutual interest. SPA
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Saudi, Malaysian Translation Associations Sign MoU to Promote Cultural Exchange

The MoU aims to enhance cooperation in the fields of translation and publishing, promote cultural and knowledge exchange, and support scientific and academic efforts of mutual interest. SPA
The MoU aims to enhance cooperation in the fields of translation and publishing, promote cultural and knowledge exchange, and support scientific and academic efforts of mutual interest. SPA

The Saudi Arabian Translation Association and the Malaysian Translators Association have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at Saudi Arabia's pavilion, the guest of honor at the 2026 Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair.

The MoU aims to enhance cooperation in the fields of translation and publishing, promote cultural and knowledge exchange, and support scientific and academic efforts of mutual interest.

It also seeks to facilitate the exchange of expertise and specialized consultations, contributing to advancing the translation sector and strengthening its presence on the international cultural scene.

The memorandum represents an important step toward building sustainable professional and cultural partnerships that contribute to strengthening civilizational dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, while opening the door to joint projects and initiatives that support translation activities and expand the exchange of literature and knowledge between the two languages.

The MoU comes as part of the cultural momentum witnessed by the Kingdom’s pavilion at the 2026 Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair, led by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission through a diverse cultural and knowledge-based program that highlights the growing stature of Saudi culture and its presence in international forums.

This underscores the importance of international book fairs as effective platforms for enhancing cultural cooperation and signing agreements and partnerships that contribute to expanding prospects for joint work among cultural and knowledge institutions around the world.