Saudi Heritage Lecture-Series at UNESCO Headquarters: Keynote Presentation

Presented a lecture on the Diriyah model of preservation at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris as part of the Saudi Heritage Lecture Series organized by the Heritage Commission at the Saudi Ministry of Culture.   Along with three other experts on urban heritage from Saudi Arabia, the program of four lectures explores some of the initiatives developed by the organization and the wider strategies on urban heritage in the Kingdom. The lectures in Paris reflected the Heritage Commission’s efforts to preserve and develop national heritage as part of the Saudi strategy for culture set out in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan for the development and diversification of the national economy, and its work to promote Saudi heritage in international forums. The aim of the commission is to enhance the heritage sector in the Kingdom by raising awareness of Saudi heritage and how it relates to the cultural identity of the nation, fostering a sense of pride in this rich cultural heritage, and strengthening its partnerships with UNESCO, other international organizations and local experts.