Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met Dr. Jasser Suleiman Al-Harbash, CEO of the Saudi Heritage Commission. The meeting saw the presence of Mr. Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Alblihed, Secretary-General of the Saudi Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and Eng. Mohammed Al-Aidarous, President of the Islamic World Heritage Committee (IWHC), as well as a host of the Heritage Commission officials, and discussed prospects for partnership between the two sides in the preservation and valorization of heritage.

During the meeting, which took place at the Heritage Commission’s headquarters, the Commission reviewed its different activities within the framework of its endeavors to develop the Saudi national heritage, enhance its preservation mechanisms, raise awareness of its importance, and build the capacities of heritage professionals.

The two parties agreed to implement joint programs and activities to support the Islamic world countries in preserving, developing and inscribing heritage on heritage lists as part of the memorandum of understanding signed, on December 2022, by His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Culture, President of the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and Dr. Salim M. AlMalik. This MoU sets forth cooperation between ICESCO and the Saudi Ministry of Culture for the preservation of cultural heritage and inscription of Member States’ natural and historical sites and elements on the Islamic world Heritage List.

The Saudi Heritage Commission, established in 2020, is mandated to develop and preserve the heritage sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, support the efforts geared towards developing the national heritage, and raising awareness about its protection by holding training workshops on heritage preservation and valorization, awarding scholarships to talents, and creating a heritage database using modern technologies.