From Extinction to Prosperity: The Cultural Dimension of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The journey of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz—may God protect him—with national heritage is a multi-chaptered story defined by patience, wisdom, and the ability to address challenges through partnerships with government agencies and local communities. This dedication has led to a qualitative leap and monumental achievements for the Kingdom‘s heritage. Saudi Arabia‘s heritage and antiquities have passed through many stages, and King Salman has consistently been their savior, reference, and pillar of support. I witnessed this firsthand as a heritage enthusiast in the period preceding the establishment of the Supreme Commission for Tourism. At the onset of the so-called "Boom" period, heritage sites and buildings suffered from neglect, leading to the decay and removal of many. This was accompanied by a negative social perception of heritage and misconceptions regarding antiquities. In the Al-Umran Cultural Society and the Program for the Care of Historic Mosques, we struggled with this lack of interest. I recall the astonishment and questions of many when we began rebuilding the "Al-Adhibiyat" house: "How can you build a house from mud?" In the midst of this reality, a firm stand was needed from a cultured leader who loves heritage and recognizes its importance. King Salman—then the Governor of Riyadh—led the campaign to restore interest in and develop heritage. The achievements, awards, and accolades garnered by the national heritage sector are the fruit of the support and care of King Salman—may God protect him. He has witnessed the evolution of the antiquities and heritage sector since its inception 50 years ago, adopting historic decisions to protect it since the era of King Saud—may God have mercy on him. His Majesty culminated this support by adopting the pioneering rescue project, the "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Caring for the Kingdom‘s Cultural Heritage," and supporting it to achieve its goals. This resulted in projects and initiatives implemented with partners at a high level of professionalism, aiming to preserve, rehabilitate, and develop national heritage, making it a living reality that connects citizens to their nation‘s history. Being close to him, I learned to love and attach myself to heritage, sensing its historical, cultural, and economic value. I continued my tours of heritage sites, participated with my family in building the Al-Adhibiyat mud house, and was commissioned by my father to oversee the , construction, and furnishing of Al-Awja Palace in Diriyah. Al-Turath Non-Profit Foundation If you‘d like to adjust the tone (e.g., more academic or more poetic) or need a shorter summary of this text, please let me know!