RIYADH, 24 June 2003 — A high-level committee, headed by Riyadh Governor Prince Salman, is going ahead with plans to put Dirriyah, the first capital of the Saudi state, on the Kingdom’s tourist map.
Two new museums will also be opened in Al-Baha and Hail this summer as part of a national plan to set up a museum in each of the country’s 13 regions.
The total number of museums of all types is currently 15 with 10 more in the planning stages.
Dr. Saad Al-Rashed, deputy minister of antiquities and museums, told the press that the National Museum at the King Abdul Aziz Historical Center was encouraging private collectors to register their exhibits with the museum and establish their own galleries for public viewing. The move is part of a public awareness campaign to educate people on the importance of preserving antiquities and other items related to the national heritage.
Referring to the tourism promotion plan for Dirriyah, the deputy minister said it would involve both modern Dirriyah and historical Dirriyah. The plan calls for the restoration of historical buildings and converting them into museums for housing various exhibits.
Cultural programs, local handicrafts and descriptions of ancient and modern Dirriyah will provide the backdrop for the Kingdom’s new tourist site. A sound-and-light show will provide a flashback with glimpses of ancient Dirriyah, which played an important role in shaping the Kingdom’s history and culture.
In addition to the National Museum in Riyadh, several historical buildings have been renovated and converted into museums in Jeddah, Taif, Hofuf and other areas. Stressing the need to insure exhibits, Dr. Al-Rashed said it was necessary in the interest of preserving antiquities. A private museum in Jeddah which was gutted by fire last year lost its priceless collections and sadly, the museum was not insured.
The deputy minister said that more local and regional museums throughout the Kingdom would be opened and historical buildings converted into permanent exhibits. “There will be an extensive study of the strategy to be adopted for the promotion of Saudi culture. The museums in the Kingdom will, therefore, receive special attention starting with the National Museum which will be further developed in line with the latest methodology.”
An important component of this strategy, he pointed out, was to involve the private sector in promoting tourism. The deputy minister also announced plans to train Saudis for careers in the management and maintenance of museums. This would serve the twin purposes of promoting Saudization of the sector as well as developing a cadre of Saudis qualified to act as museum guides, he explained.
