classes, as well as the sponsorship of Saudi nationals in interna- tional art and cultural events. The Department of Museums
& Antiquities was established in 1974, although today the respon- sibility for the many museums throughout the country falls under the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA). One of SCTA’s main objec-
2
As the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia has been at the core of ancient trading routes for thousands of years, transporting spices and silks from Africa on one side of the country to Asia on the other. Over time, its trading partners extended from South Asia to the Mediterranean and, as a result, the Saudi people were enriched and infl uenced by many different cultures. The country’s heritage was
further enhanced by the introduc- tion of Islam in the 7th
century of
the Common Era, which rapidly spread across the Atlantic Ocean and east to India and China. This was a period for increasing knowledge on everything from religion, culture, science and philosophy to the arts – an era that would come to be known as the Islamic Golden Age. The late King Abdulaziz, who formed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 and his sons who have succeeded him, are committed to preserving the nation’s traditions and
culture. One of the most widely upheld traditions of the Arab people is the extension of
hospitality, which every Saudi Arabian continues to offer to strangers, friends and family.
tives is to create awareness of the national cultural and architectural heritage and raise its cultural and economic importance, locally and internationally with the aim of creating employment oppor- tunities for communities as well as ensuring the preservation of important artefacts and buildings. By preserving the cultural
2 1&2 Masmak Fortress
3 Bronze sculpture of an Arabian leopard
4 Traditional coffee pot The simplest expression of
hospitality is coffee – its prepara- tion is a cultural tradition. Saudi coffee contains cardamom and sometimes other spices such as saffron to give it a golden colour and a sweet taste and is often served in small cups along with dates and sweets. Another gesture of hospitality is the burning of incense to welcome guests.
PRESERVING A
NATIONAL TREASURE The Saudi government has taken great strides in the past decade in recognising the importance of its heritage and highlighting the country’s rich history both to its own people and to visitors. Various institutions have
been established throughout the country, the largest being the Department of Culture at the
4
Ministry of Culture & Information. This department supports a wide range of cultural programmes, including literary and drama clubs, arts and crafts and folklore
and architectural heritage of the nation, SCTA also aims to help every citizen recognise his or her responsibility towards this goal. Speaking in an address to the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of SCTA, said: “Our heritage is considered a national asset for the tourism initiative because we recognise that sustainable tourism is potentially a signifi - cant source of employment and a major development engine. “It is a means by which our
heritage can be protected and used proactively to become the attraction for social interac- tion between communities.”
CREATIVE DIRECTION The Saudi Arabian Society for Culture & Arts was founded in 1972 to support rising local talent and provide them with the oppor- tunity to display their art. The society has established a library and information centre, as well as the kingdom’s fi rst cultural centre in Riyadh. The city is also the home of the King Fahd Library, which has one of the largest collections of rare manuscripts on Arabic and Islamic literature.
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