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AlUla Marks World Heritage Day, Showcases Millennia of Human Civilization

AlUla remains committed to the preservation of its archaeological sites and inscriptions through specialized restoration and rehabilitation projects - SPA
AlUla remains committed to the preservation of its archaeological sites and inscriptions through specialized restoration and rehabilitation projects - SPA
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AlUla Marks World Heritage Day, Showcases Millennia of Human Civilization

AlUla remains committed to the preservation of its archaeological sites and inscriptions through specialized restoration and rehabilitation projects - SPA
AlUla remains committed to the preservation of its archaeological sites and inscriptions through specialized restoration and rehabilitation projects - SPA

AlUla Governorate is celebrating World Heritage Day, observed annually on April 18, by showcasing a historical legacy spanning thousands of years as a crossroads of ancient civilizations and a living testament to cultural continuity and architectural development, reinforcing its status as a premier global cultural center, SPA reported.

The governorate is home to landmarks of universal value, most notably Hegra, the first Saudi site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Other significant sites include AlUla Old Town, featuring over 900 traditional mud-brick houses that reflect the region's historical social fabric and unique architectural heritage.

AlUla remains committed to the preservation of its archaeological sites and inscriptions through specialized restoration and rehabilitation projects.

These efforts ensure the sustainability of its heritage for future generations, aligning with international standards for protecting human history and promoting global cultural awareness.

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Culture

Historic Linah Marks Saudi National Day with Heritage Events, International Performances

Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia - SPA
Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia - SPA
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Historic Linah Marks Saudi National Day with Heritage Events, International Performances

Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia - SPA
Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia - SPA

Historic Linah, located south of Rafha in Northern Borders Region, will celebrate Saudi National Day with a series of national and heritage events at the Historic Linah Market.

The program features performances by local and international artistic groups, along with a variety of artistic segments, solo musical performances, and equestrian and camel-riding displays, SPA reported.

The festivities will also include puppet shows, children’s competitions, and a musical evening showcasing traditional songs.

The Historic Linah Municipality has completed preparations across sites, parks, and roads, decorating streets with national flags and festive lighting to welcome visitors and create a celebratory atmosphere that reflects national pride.

Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia.

Once a key stop along ancient caravan routes, the town’s historic palaces and market continue to stand as enduring witnesses to the region’s collective memory.

Culture

Germans Arrested for Louvre Stunt in Mona Lisa Hall

A person photographs Leonardo da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa at the Louvre museum, Aug. 31, 2025, in Paris. (AP)
A person photographs Leonardo da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa at the Louvre museum, Aug. 31, 2025, in Paris. (AP)
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Germans Arrested for Louvre Stunt in Mona Lisa Hall

A person photographs Leonardo da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa at the Louvre museum, Aug. 31, 2025, in Paris. (AP)
A person photographs Leonardo da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa at the Louvre museum, Aug. 31, 2025, in Paris. (AP)

Two Germans were arrested Saturday after they stuck two paintings on a wall of the hall that hosts the Mona Lisa in Paris's Louvre museum, police sources said.

The two men used sticky tape to stick the two paintings -- measuring 30 by 40 cm -- in the hall where visitors flock to see Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece.

One showed one of the two men wearing armor, while the other was a portrait of the two men accompanied by a woman.

Security officers at the museum detained the two men and called the police, who arrested them for minor damage to the wall. Interviewed by police, they said they had done it for fun.

The two men will be summoned to appear in court once the museum files a formal complaint for the damage, said the police sources.

The Mona Lisa itself, now behind a thick layer of protective glass, suffered no damage in the incident.

Museum officials are more than usually alert these days after a spate of heists at French museums and galleries, which have highlighted inadequate security in some cases and led to questions about whether criminal gangs see them as soft targets.

The Louvre itself was targeted last October when eight items of jewelry worth millions of dollars were stolen during a daylight heist.

Even though four suspects have been arrested, the stolen items have still not been found despite extensive searches by French investigators.

The burglary stunned the world, embarrassed France and revealed a series of security lapses, including the museum's old-fashioned CCTV system.

Many of the museum's security flaws had already been highlighted in a 2019 audit ordered by the museum, the findings of which were never acted on.

The Louvre welcomed around nine million visitors last year, far above its intended capacity, which has led to overcrowding problems.

In May, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a major overhaul of the museum, which will include a new space for the Mona Lisa and a new museum entrance.

Culture

Saudi Culture Ministry, ALECSO Sign Executive Program for Intangible Cultural Heritage

The agreement focuses on organizing a specialized symposium to exchange expertise on safeguarding policies, methodologies, and practices. SPA
The agreement focuses on organizing a specialized symposium to exchange expertise on safeguarding policies, methodologies, and practices. SPA
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Saudi Culture Ministry, ALECSO Sign Executive Program for Intangible Cultural Heritage

The agreement focuses on organizing a specialized symposium to exchange expertise on safeguarding policies, methodologies, and practices. SPA
The agreement focuses on organizing a specialized symposium to exchange expertise on safeguarding policies, methodologies, and practices. SPA

The Ministry of Culture has signed an executive program with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) to establish a cooperative framework to safeguard intangible cultural heritage and advance shared Arab cultural goals.

Thursday’s agreement focuses on organizing a specialized symposium to exchange expertise on safeguarding policies, methodologies, and practices.

It also includes formulating recommendations for bilateral and multilateral cooperation and showcasing living Arab heritage practices on the international stage to unify regional preservation efforts.

Building upon a 2022 memorandum of understanding between the ministry and ALECSO, the executive program underscores both parties' commitment to broadening institutional partnerships that ensure the long-term protection and sustainability of intangible cultural heritage.