Saudi Heritage Preservation Society

The Saudi Heritage Preservation Society (SHPS) is a Saudi charitable organization based in Riyadh whose work centers on the protection, documentation, and public appreciation of the Kingdom’s cultural and natural heritage. It was established on 17 May 2010, following a constituent meeting held at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia. The society operates in a field that combines archaeological conservation, historic-building preservation, safeguarding of traditional cultural expressions, public education, and international heritage cooperation. SHPS’s remit covers both tangible and intangible heritage. Its tangible-heritage interests include archaeological sites, historic buildings, and other places that communicate Saudi Arabia’s history and local identities. Its intangible-heritage interests include traditional arts, crafts, performance practices, social customs, and forms of knowledge transmitted between generations. Rather than functioning as a commercial product brand, the society presents itself as a civic and cultural institution whose principal outputs are conservation projects, documentation, awareness activities, and heritage-related community programs. The society’s publicly described project activity expanded in 2013, when it launched initiatives focused on protecting and documenting archaeological sites and old buildings. These activities were accompanied by programs related to sculptures and skills associated with traditional arts and crafts. Awareness campaigns and seasonal competitions were used as public-engagement tools, helping connect heritage preservation with education and participation rather than restricting it to specialist conservation work. SHPS is also connected to Saudi Arabia’s participation in international heritage frameworks. UNESCO has registered the society as an international nongovernmental organization involved in safeguarding heritage. The organization’s work sits within a wider national heritage landscape that includes Saudi elements on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and Saudi properties on the World Heritage List. These inscriptions include practices such as Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, Almezmar, falconry, Arabic coffee, the majlis, and Alardah Alnajdiyah, as well as sites including Al-Ahsa Oasis, Al-Hijr Archaeological Site, At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah, Historic Jeddah, and the rock art of the Hail Region. The inscriptions are international reference points for the heritage environment in which SHPS operates; the available source material does not establish that the society independently owns or administers each listed element or property. On 12 July 2019, UNESCO and Saudi Arabia signed a letter under which Saudi Arabia committed US$25 million to UNESCO for heritage preservation. This was a government-to-UNESCO contribution rather than a reported revenue figure for SHPS, but it illustrates the growing institutional scale of Saudi heritage cooperation during the period. Publicly available material supplied for this dossier does not identify SHPS’s current leadership, detailed finances, membership structure, specific conservation sites under direct management, or a complete account of its present-day programs. Accordingly, the society is best characterized as a Saudi heritage-preservation nonprofit with domestic project activity and international recognition, while operational details remain limited in the cited sources.

The Saudi Heritage Preservation Society was established on 17 May 2010, with its constituent meeting held at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia. Its creation placed the organization within Saudi Arabia’s developing institutional framework for preserving national heritage, encompassing archaeological remains, historic architecture, traditional arts, crafts, and community cultural practices. The supplied sources do not identify an individual founder or provide a detailed account of the society’s initial governance. The society’s work is charitable and preservation-oriented rather than commercial. Its stated field includes safeguarding national heritage and communicating its value to the public. In practical terms, this means supporting the protection and documentation of archaeological locations and old buildings, while also encouraging the continuation and recognition of traditional skills and artistic practices. This broad remit gives the society a role across both tangible and intangible heritage. A significant phase of publicly described activity began in 2013, when SHPS launched several projects concerned with archaeological sites and historic buildings. The projects emphasized documentation as well as protection, reflecting the importance of recording heritage assets in addition to carrying out physical conservation. The same activity also extended to sculptures and skills associated with traditional arts and crafts. Awareness campaigns and seasonal competitions formed part of the society’s outreach approach, creating public-facing ways to encourage interest in heritage and traditional cultural expression. SHPS has an international dimension through its registration by UNESCO as an international nongovernmental organization involved in safeguarding heritage. This status connects the society to wider global heritage-conservation networks, although the available references do not specify the precise scope of its UNESCO activities, accreditation arrangements, or individual projects undertaken through that relationship. The society’s operating context also includes Saudi Arabia’s participation in UNESCO heritage lists. Saudi intangible-heritage inscriptions include Alardah Alnajdiyah, Arabic coffee, the majlis, falconry, Almezmar, and Al-Qatt Al-Asiri. Saudi World Heritage properties include the Al-Hijr Archaeological Site, At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah, Historic Jeddah, rock art in the Hail Region, and Al-Ahsa Oasis. These listings represent the wider national and international heritage environment relevant to SHPS. The cited material does not establish that SHPS is the sole custodian, owner, or administrator of these elements and properties. On 12 July 2019, UNESCO and Saudi Arabia signed a letter concerning a US$25 million Saudi contribution to UNESCO for heritage preservation. The event demonstrated the scale of Saudi Arabia’s international heritage engagement, but it should not be treated as a disclosed SHPS financial result. No reliable information in the supplied references identifies the society’s annual budget, staff, current officers, membership, or present portfolio of sites. The documented history therefore supports describing SHPS as a Saudi charitable heritage-preservation body with project, educational, and international-conservation functions, while leaving its current operating structure and later developments open for verification.

• 2019

  Saudi Arabia commits heritage funding through UNESCO

  [1]Saudi Heritage Preservation Societyen.wikipedia.org

  A 12 July letter between UNESCO and Saudi Arabia recorded a US$25 million Saudi contribution to UNESCO for heritage preservation. The cited source does not identify this as SHPS funding.

• 2013

  Heritage-protection and documentation projects launched

  [1]Saudi Heritage Preservation Societyen.wikipedia.org

  SHPS launched projects addressing the protection and documentation of archaeological sites and old buildings, together with initiatives related to sculptures and traditional arts and crafts.

• 2010

  Society established

  [1]Saudi Heritage Preservation Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Saudi Heritage Preservation Society was established on 17 May 2010 following a constituent meeting at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia.

A Saudi civic heritage organization linking conservation of archaeological and historic places with safeguarding of traditional arts, crafts, customs, and community knowledge.

• Heritage conservation program · 2013

  Archaeological-site documentation and protection

  A documented area of SHPS activity involving efforts to protect archaeological sites and record information about them. The supplied references do not specify the individual sites, methods, budgets, or current status of particular projects.

• Architectural heritage program · 2013

  Historic-building preservation

  SHPS projects have addressed the preservation and documentation of old buildings as part of the society’s tangible-heritage work. Available material does not provide a complete list of buildings or indicate whether the society directly owns, operates, or manages them.

• Intangible heritage program · 2013

  Traditional arts and crafts initiatives

  The society has supported initiatives concerning sculptures and skills associated with traditional arts and crafts. These activities are presented as part of a broader effort to maintain knowledge and practices linked to Saudi cultural heritage.

• Public engagement program · 2013

  Heritage awareness campaigns and seasonal competitions

  Awareness campaigns and seasonal competitions have been described as tools used by SHPS to encourage public interest in heritage. The supplied references do not name individual campaigns, competition titles, dates, prizes, or participation figures.

• 2013Heritage awareness campaigns and seasonal competitions

  Saudi Arabia

  SHPS used awareness activities and seasonal competitions to promote public engagement with archaeological places, historic buildings, traditional arts, and crafts.

  Outcome. The available source confirms the activities but does not report measurable participation or outcome data.

  Source

• 2013

  Broaden project activity from site preservation to public heritage engagementStrategy

  Background

  The society’s described 2013 projects addressed archaeological sites and old buildings while also involving traditional arts, crafts, awareness campaigns, and seasonal competitions.

  Action taken

  SHPS pursued a combined approach of protection, documentation, cultural-skills support, and public outreach.

  Aftermath

  The cited material does not provide later evaluations, budgets, or quantified results.

  Source

• 2019

  Saudi Arabia and UNESCO sign heritage-preservation funding letter[1]Saudi Heritage Preservation Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  On 12 July 2019, UNESCO signed a letter with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture under which Saudi Arabia committed US$25 million to UNESCO for heritage preservation. The available material describes this as a government-to-UNESCO contribution and does not identify it as SHPS revenue or funding.

1. 1Saudi Heritage Preservation Societyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Saudi Heritage Preservation Society official websiteshps.org.sa