Heritage Commission adds 9,586 new sites to national register

The Heritage Commission has announced the registration of 9,586 new urban heritage sites in the National Register of Urban Heritage. The process took place in two phases: the first saw 3,000 sites added, followed by a second phase in which 6,586 more were included. This brings the total number of registered sites across the Kingdom to 59,586, as part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to document, preserve, and protect Saudi Arabia’s urban heritage.

The newly registered sites are distributed across the Kingdom’s regions: Riyadh (169 sites), Makkah (1,755), Madinah (23), Qassim (13), Eastern Province (19), Asir (4,363), Tabuk (2), Hail (21), Northern Borders (1), Najran (673), and Al-Baha (2,547).

The Commission explained that continuously registering and updating the National Register of Urban Heritage helps provide legal protection for these sites, organizes their preservation, rehabilitation, and reuse, and supports the integration of heritage data with urban planning and development. It also enhances the accuracy, efficiency, and reliability of the national register.

Call for community participation

The Heritage Commission has invited citizens and residents to report unregistered heritage sites or any activities that may threaten their integrity. Reports can be submitted via the "Balagh Athari" service at https://contactcenter.moc.gov.sa, through the Commission’s official social media channels, by visiting its regional offices, or by calling the unified security operations center at 911. The Commission stressed the importance of community partnership in discovering and safeguarding national heritage for future generations.