Conclusion of the Capacity Building Programme on Incorporating Sustainable Development into the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention in the Arab States Region
The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH), the Heritage Commission in Saudi Arabia, ICOMOS and its Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGWG) successfully concluded the final phase of the Capacity Building Programme on Incorporating Sustainable Development into the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention in the Arab States Region. This phase culminated with an in-person workshop in the Arab States Region, which took place from 8-12 September 2024 in the AlUla region of Saudi Arabia.
The programme aimed to enhance the integration of Sustainable Development Goals into World Heritage conservation across the Arab region by balancing heritage preservation with economic and social development. It focused on improving participants’ skills, fostering cooperation, and incorporating the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach and the 2030 Agenda into the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in the region.
This second and final phase first featured an online workshop held from 24 to 25 June, which focused on integrating Sustainable Development Goals into World Heritage management, addressing environmental aspects, economic development, and security.
The final in-person workshop, held from 8 to 12 September 2024 in AlUla, aimed to further explore heritage management strategies through seminars and discussions on national and regional approaches to sustainable development integration, community engagement, and the importance of considering the wider settings of heritage properties. The programme included site visits to the old town and Art district of AlUla and the Hegra Archaeological site, allowing participants to apply theoretical concepts to local case studies. Indeed, participants engaged in exercises focused on developing and refining management strategies to eventually present their contributions to the stakeholders of the AlUla Hegra Archaeological Site.
The workshop featured the participation of ICOMOS experts Gabriel Caballero (ICOMOS SDGWG Focal Point), Susan Fayad (ICOMOS SDGWG member, member of the global HUL programme), Naima Benkari and Luisa de Marco (ICOMOS World Heritage adviser), and the online contributions of Donovan Rypkema, Amra Hadzimuhamedovic and Haifa Abdelhaleem. ICOMOS President Dr. Teresa Patrício and ICOMOS Saudi President Her Royal Highness Dr. Princess Nouf bint Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and were also present at the event and gave an introductory speech to highlight the programme’s significance, alongside Dr. Jasir Alherbish (CEO, Heritage Commission), Dr. Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani (Culture VP, Royal Commission for AlUla) and Rashad Faraj (Director, ARCWH).
"Why is this capacity building programme important? It is our vision, mission, and responsibility to ensure that we pass on the rich and relevant heritage left to us by our ancestors, in its full authenticity and integrity, to future generations. ICOMOS is fully committed to this goal."