RIYADH: A private cultural attraction will soon arise in Ergah, west of the Saudi capital, as a Saudi citizen, Abdul Rahman Al-Malik, plans to transform his family’s old house into a cultural museum.

The project would contribute to national efforts exerted by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Heritage (SCTH) to promote domestic tourism.

It is also strategically located, as the place is not too far from Wadi Hanifa and Diriyah, the old Riyadh, which are both

tourist destinations in the Saudi capital.

“I come from an old family which enjoys and loves old things that belong to the ancient past. My family possesses antiques which are of cultural interest,” he said.

He said that in 2001, his family started putting together some old pieces with the hope that they would convert part of their house into a museum to preserve the legacy of his ancestors. Every Friday at dawn, Al-Malik still goes to the market, or wherever he thinks he could find and get old things that could form part of the museum.

“Sometimes, I could buy old things for a song. However, there are those which really fetch a big amount,” he said.

As of now, various old objects are in his possession. These include a water container used in schools in the past. It’s 58 years old.

“Back then, there were no coolers where school children could get water to drink. With the modern water coolers now, the container in our possession reflects much of Saudi history and culture,” he said.

He also has several coffee containers dating back into the distant past, which he also hopes to engender interest among visitors of his planned museum. His collection also includes old telephones.

Al-Malik also envisions a part of the museum showcasing a bride’s possessions as a man’s wardrobe in the past. He said the old collections were bequeathed to him by his late mother Haya bint Saad.