Five new museums under construction in Saudi

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Work has started on the construction of five new museums and plans for the renovation of six others is underway throughout Saudi Arabia it was announced yesterday.

Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), said that building work on regional museums in Dammam, Abha, Hail, Tabuk and Baha had started, while studies in to the renovation of museums in Jundal, Taima, Al-Ula, Hufouf, Sabya and Najran have been completed.

While the total budget for the projects was not released, the announcement follows news last year that the CTA had signed contracts worth around US $38 million (SR145 million) for the construction of four new provincial museums in Baha, Tabuk, Hail, and Dammam.

Saudi Arabia has centred it efforts on creating a series of new museums to help preserve its past – and support from private organisations has helped secure funding for the projects.

Prince Sultan commended Mohammed Jameel, president of Abdul Latif Jameel Group, for donating SR10 million to develop the Fed Heritage City in Hail.

“An agreement has been signed to build an international museum in Fed Heritage City on the location of the Haj route famous as Darb Zobayda,” he said.

Another accord has been signed to promote cooperation and coordination between the Higher Commission for Hail Development and the SCTA.

The prince said preserving Saudi Arabia’s past was of utmost importance for the Kingdom. A number of important artefacts had been uncovered during recent excavations, and that the government was making efforts to retrieve national antiquities from other countries.

“We have given priority to the protection and development of antiquities and heritage sites and to enhancing public awareness about their historical importance,” he told reporters.