Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has decreed the establishment of renovation commissions tasked with the development of two important archaeological and historic sites in the Kingdom, Al Ola and Diriyah Gate.
The historic, cultural and architectural influences of these two areas are expected to make these major tourist attractions as Saudi Arabia’s hospitality and tourism industry matures to welcome both local and international travellers, said a senior tourism official reported by the official Saudi Press Agency.
According to the officials, local motifs invoking the distinctive heritage will be incorporated into the design of Diriyah Gate, which looks out over the bank of Wadi Hanifa.
Diriyah Gate project is part of a massive plan to develop the historic area by building facilities at its entrance to attract visitors.
Unesco’s World Heritage Committee had approved Diriyah’s Turaif District as a World Heritage Site in 2010, they pointed out.
Al Ola is one of the most fascinating vestiges of ancient Arabia, lying 380 km north of Saudi city of Madinah.
The town was founded in the 6th century and serves as the gateway to the Kingdom’s first Unesco World Heritage Site, Mada’en Saleh, built over 2,000 years ago by the Nabataeans, who also carved Petra in Jordan, said the tourism officials.
Diriyah is a small city 20km from Riyadh. Originally the first capital of the Saudi Royal Dynasty, from 1744 to 1818, the town is an excellent example of Najdi architecture of that period, they added.
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