RCU and UNESCO Launch International Conference on Documentary Heritage for Sustainable Development

Paris, April 29, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), in partnership with UNESCO, has launched the international conference titled “Innovating Documentary Heritage for Sustainable Development in AlUla and Saudi Arabia”, taking place at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on April 29–30.

Organized under the framework of UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” program, the conference gathers leading experts, national memory institutions, and cultural policymakers to explore the role of documentary heritage in advancing education, fostering intercultural dialogue, and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Saudi Arabia and across the Arab region.

Alongside the conference, an exhibition titled “Words on Memory: A Window into Saudi Arabia’s Documentary Heritage” is being held at UNESCO headquarters from April 28 to May 2. Presented internationally for the first time, the exhibition showcases archival material and historical narratives from the Kingdom in collaboration with Saudi national memory institutions.

The initiative reflects RCU’s long-term commitment to safeguarding both the natural and cultural heritage of AlUla, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. It further positions AlUla as an emerging regional center for heritage-led development and cultural diplomacy.

The conference also reinforces the growing collaboration between RCU and UNESCO through the “Memory of the World” program and the Kingdoms Institute. The partnership focuses on capacity building, documentary heritage preservation, and fostering global knowledge exchange in the cultural sector.