Paris: The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has successfully concluded the international conference 'Innovating Documentary Heritage for Sustainable Development in AlUla and Saudi Arabia'. The event took place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, within the framework of UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the conference attracted over 50 international documentary heritage experts and high-level representatives from memory institutions. Participants included 36 global organizations, with more than 150 attendees on-site and 600 joining virtually from 80 countries. The discussions underscored the critical role of archives, libraries, and cultural institutions in preserving collective memory, promoting education, and fostering intercultural understanding through dialogue and knowledge sharing.
The event also focused on the importance of international cooperation, capacity building, and digital innovation in safeguarding vulnerable documentary heritage, particularly in regions affected by conflict or environmental threats. RCU reiterated its dedication to sustainable development through heritage conservation and global knowledge sharing, leveraging its strategic partnership with UNESCO to empower national institutions and engage communities.
In conjunction with the conference, the exhibition 'Words on Memory: A Window into the Documentary Heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia' was held. This exhibition highlighted RCU's efforts in preserving collective memory through Islamic manuscripts, historical maps, archival photographs, digital displays, and a Virtual Reality (VR) experience that transported visitors to Jabal Ikmah, a UNESCO-listed site known as an open library of inscriptions.
The Ministry of Culture participated in the exhibition with a pavilion showcasing the Saudi cultural memory center and its national digitization projects. These projects include the Cultural Hub and newly launched Arabic typefaces that aim to reflect and preserve Saudi cultural identity.
The conference also marked a significant step in regional coordination for documenting heritage preservation. Participants from national commissions, memory committees, and cultural institutions across the Arab region shared updates on their strategic plans. These plans include forming specialized national committees for the Memory of the World Programme and enhancing policy coordination between government and civil society for identifying and registering documentary heritage at the national level.
Regional collaboration was also a key theme, with several countries committing to support joint nominations to the Memory of the World International Register, reflecting shared histories and cultural connections. Plans were introduced for developing a Gulf-wide Memory of the World digital platform and atlas, along with targeted outreach campaigns and capacity-building workshops to empower new and emerging memory institutions across the region.
The conference builds on the Royal Commission for AlUla's long-term strategic partnership with UNESCO under the Memory of the World Programme and the Kingdoms Institute, which serves as a regional hub for research and conservation of cultural heritage.