Saudi Arabia has added more than 1,100 new heritage sites to its National Register of Architectural Heritage over the past year — the largest single-year increase to date. The announcement of 2024 figures by the Heritage Commission, under the Ministry of Culture, brings the official tally of registered sites to 3,646, marking a decisive step in the Kingdom’s strategy to transform its historic landscape into a pillar of national identity and global tourism appeal.
Building a cultural infrastructure
The growing register represents more than an academic exercise in documentation. It is a strategic pillar of Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy and build national pride through cultural revival. The heritage register spans a wide range of typologies and regions — from mudbrick tower houses in Asir to Hijazi coral-stone merchant homes in Jeddah — capturing centuries of architectural evolution across the Arabian Peninsula.
This methodical approach, combining traditional fieldwork with digital mapping and archival integration, is laying the groundwork for a new era of experiential cultural tourism.
Putting it in context: how Saudi compares
Among GCC countries, Saudi Arabia now leads in the formal documentation of architectural heritage. While other nations such as Oman, Bahrain, and the UAE are active in preservation and restoration — particularly in and around their UNESCO-listed sites — they have not published national heritage registers with figures comparable to those now documented in Saudi Arabia.
What this means for tourism
The significance of Saudi Arabia’s expanding heritage register goes well beyond conservation. According to the Heritage Commission, more than 6.5 million visitors engaged with heritage sites in 2024 — including key destinations like Diriyah, Historic Jeddah, and AlUla. While many of these visitors are domestic or regional, the infrastructure now in place — and still expanding — offers the Kingdom a unique chance to appeal to high-spending cultural travellers from Europe, Asia, and North America.
AlUla: the benchmark
One of the most visible examples of heritage-driven tourism is AlUla, home to Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site: Madâin Sâlih (Al-Hijr). A once-forgotten oasis city has become a global travel icon thanks to a bold combination of archaeological preservation, architectural enhancement, and luxury hospitality.
Visitors can experience:
- Guided access to Nabataean tombs
- Contemporary art installations in the desert
- Exclusive concerts at the mirrored Maraya Hall
- Boutique stays with immersive cultural programming
This model — blending heritage with high-end lifestyle — is now being mirrored in other projects, including Diriyah Gate, a $63 billion development anchored in Najdi architectural identity.
Strategic tourism positioning
Saudi Arabia’s heritage expansion aligns with global tourism trends favouring authentic, place-based experiences. Countries like Italy, Jordan, and Japan have long harnessed their architectural legacy to attract high-value cultural tourists. Saudi Arabia is now building the institutional and physical infrastructure to do the same — starting with documentation, followed by preservation, interpretation, and premium visitor engagement.
For high-end travel advisors, this translates into:
- Broader cultural portfolios to offer discerning clients
- Rich storytelling potential around restored sites and regional identity
- New luxury circuits combining historical depth with top-tier amenities
The inclusion of over a thousand new sites in just one year signals Saudi Arabia’s determination to elevate its cultural assets from local landmarks to global destinations. With 3,646 officially registered sites and a heritage tourism strategy that bridges authenticity and luxury, the Kingdom is carving out a serious role on the international cultural tourism map — and presenting a rich new canvas for elite travellers.
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Read also: Melanie de Souza: driving AlUla’s global recognition with vision, heritage, and innovation
