JEDDAH: Being a source of pride for the nation and a cultural and economic resource, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities is making all efforts to preserve and develop the national heritage in the Kingdom, said Dr. Ali Bin Ibrahim Al-Ghabban, deputy chairman of the Commission for Antiquities and Museums. National heritage serves as a cultural resource to be added to the Kingdom's religious, political and economic dimensions, which the world already knows about, he said in a speech Monday – which was World Heritage Day. The commission is very much aware of the fact that one of its major tasks is to develop heritage sites in the Kingdom, he added. Its efforts are part of the modernization and development, to which the leadership and people have been committed since the foundation of the modern Kingdom by the late King Abdul Aziz, along with abidance by the noble Islamic values and genuine Arab heritage, Dr. Ghabban said. As part of the commission's efforts to acquaint the world with the Kingdom's heritage and culture, it has organized the Kingdom's Wonders Exhibition, which was displayed in the Louvre, in Paris, and in Spain; preparations are being made to open it in May in a Moscow museum, he added. Dr. Ghabban said the commission is making investments in the country's architectural heritage as part of its project to rehabilitate heritage sites and convert them to being a parts of a productive economic sector. These projects include development of heritage villages and rehabilitation of the existing traditional markets and historical cities. He said one of the important objectives behind setting up the National Center for Urban Heritage is the preservation and development of areas in the country's cities.
