Shaikha Mai praises inscription of Saudi site on World Heritage List

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) President and Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) Chairperson Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa has congratulated Saudi Arabia on UNESCO’s inscription of Saudi Arabia’s cultural rock art in Hima, Najran, on the World Heritage List. She noted that the registration of the site on the list is a success not only for Saudi Arabia but also for all Arab countries.

The decision was taken during the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee being held in Fuzho, China. The site, the sixth to be enlisted in Saudi Arabia, is home to one of the largest rock art complexes in the world. Bahrain and ARC-WH are participating in the session of the World Heritage Committee, held in China until July 30.

Shaikha Mai indicated that the inscription of the sixth Saudi Arabian world heritage site reflects the country’s rich human heritage. She indicated that Bahrain, as a member of the World Heritage Committee, had backed the inscription of the Saudi site on the World Heritage List, noting that Bahrain and ARCWH support efforts to preserve the heritage sites across the Arab world.

Covering an area of 500 square kilometres, and located between Najran and Wadi Addawasir in the country’s southwest, Hima is home to one of the largest rock art complexes in the world, with more than 34 sites featuring inscriptions. Situated along the route taken by ancient Arabian caravans, these images derive from various scripts, including Musnad, Aramaic-Nabataean, South-Arabian, Thamudic, Greek and Arabic.

The works portray the everyday life of 7,000-year-old communities, with images depicting hunting, fauna and flora. Saudi Arabia is now home to six locations on the prestigious list, namely Hima Cultural Area (listed in 2021), Al Ahsa Oasis (listed in 2018), Rock art in Al Hail region (listed in 2015), Historic Jeddah (listed in 2014), Al Turaif (listed in 2010) and Hegra (also known as Madain Saleh) (listed in 2008).