The Heritage Commission will organize the Conference on Combating Trafficking in Cultural Property from October 29 to 30 in Riyadh, bringing together international experts, government officials, and representatives from cultural institutions and regional and international organizations.
The conference will highlight Saudi Arabia’s efforts to protect cultural property while fostering international collaboration to address this issue. Its scientific program features six dialogue sessions, during which 31 research papers will be presented.
According to SPA, these papers will explore contemporary challenges in safeguarding cultural property, propose solutions using advanced technologies like AI and digital documentation, and discuss strategies to enhance legal frameworks for recovering stolen items and strengthening protection mechanisms at both local and global levels.
An accompanying exhibition will showcase recovered artifacts and key international agreements, while dialogue sessions will highlight global best practices in heritage management.
The event will conclude with a series of recommendations, notably advocating for stronger national and international legislation to protect cultural property, intensified training programs for professionals in the field, and collaborative initiatives to recover and safeguard cultural artifacts from illegal exploitation.
The Heritage Commission underscored that hosting the conference in Riyadh reflects Saudi Arabia's leading role in cultural heritage protection and enhances the Kingdom's international standing in this area. This aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to develop the cultural sector and promote its global contributions.
