RIYADH — Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah made an inspection tour of a number of archaeological and historical sites in the Al-Ahsa governorate in the Eastern Province on Monday. He reviewed a number of strategic cultural projects implemented by the cultural authorities in Al-Ahsa, and the progresses achieved in implementing them. This is part of the minister's tour of various regions and governorates of the Kingdom to follow up on cultural projects and initiatives. Al-Ahsa Governorate is one of the governorates of the Kingdom that witnesses population density, and its history dates back thousands of years. The governorate hosts a group of archaeological sites, and extinct cities such as Wasit, and Al-Nazira. It is famous for the largest palm oases in the world registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name "Al-Ahsa Oasis", which entered the Guinness Book of Records as the largest independent oasis in the world. The oasis includes more than three million palm trees, covering vast areas of Al-Ahsa lands, and produces more than 100000 tons of dates annually. Al-Ahsa has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a major settlement over the past 500 years, including palm groves, water channels, springs, wells, archaeological sites and a group of urban heritage within its historical settlements. It is also a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of handicrafts and folk arts. It includes a number of landmarks such as the Qaisariya Heritage Market, the Amiriya School, the historic Jawatha Mosque, Ibrahim Palace, and the Bay'ah House. The visit of the minister of culture to Al-Ahsa Governorate comes to review cultural projects and follow up on cultural initiatives implemented by the ministry of Culture and its cultural bodies in the governorate. This is within the framework of the ministry's efforts to distribute cultural offerings to all regions of the Kingdom, and ensure that Saudi creators receive the necessary support and empowerment to practice their skills and cultural creativity. This is in addition to documenting and preserving cultural heritage, promoting and developing cultural activities, and achieving the goals of the national cultural strategy aimed at advancing the Saudi cultural sector in all regions, under the umbrella of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
