Curating World Heritage Sites in Saudi Arabia for Local Development,Hegra as a Case Study

Abstract

This paper aimed to research the museums and heritage sites in Saudi Arabia and how they can influence local development. A review of the literature provided a strong link between conserving and curating heritage and the quality of life of societies residing in places of cultural significance, especially when they are included in the decision-making and empowered to make income and participate in the cultural events as this provides them with a sense of importance and belonging. Thus, interdisciplinary work is needed to develop the local communities. Moreover, there is an urgent need to improve the condition of cultural institutions in Saudi Arabia as they were overlooked for decades, resulting in the demand for more qualified professionals and a plan to maintain heritage sites. The paper examines the circumstances in Saudi Arabia as a region that needs more studies in the domain. In the kingdom, heritage sites are typically investigated in an archaeological context. In contrast, cultural importance is neither examined by its own nor its influence on the local communities. In Saudi, museums are hardly on the agenda of academic research. Therefore, integrating the museums' rules and responsibilities towards heritage sites and societies provides a broader framework to examine the potential of an interdisciplinary look at the cultural situation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.