Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission announced the addition of 744 new archaeological sites to the National Antiquities Register, increasing the total to 10,061 across the Kingdom. This milestone underscores the richness and diversity of Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage and reflects the commission’s ongoing commitment to documenting and preserving these sites.
The newly registered sites are distributed across various regions, including Riyadh (253), Makkah (11), Madinah (167), Qassim (30), the Eastern Region (13), Aseer (64), Tabuk (72), Hail (13), Northern Borders (2), Jazan (23), Najran (86), and Al-Jouf (10).
These registrations comply with the Antiquities, Museums, and Urban Heritage Law, issued by Royal Decree on 9/1/1436 AH, and follow a resolution from the Heritage Commission’s Board of Directors authorizing its CEO to register archaeological and heritage sites. This initiative aims to enhance protection for sites of historical and cultural significance while ensuring proper documentation.
Moreover, emphasizing the importance of community participation in preserving and promoting the Kingdom’s national heritage, the Heritage Commission encouraged citizens and residents to support these efforts by reporting unregistered sites via the Balagh platform, official social media channels, or the Unified Security Operations Center at 911.
In 2024, the Heritage Commission added 198 new archaeological sites to the National Antiquities Register, raising the total to 9,317 sites nationwide. The Hail region contributed the largest share with 50 sites, followed by Makkah with 39, Qassim with 34, Jouf with 28, Madinah with 14, and Tabuk with 13. Smaller numbers of sites were recorded across Riyadh, Jazan, Asir, Najran, the Northern Borders, and the Eastern Province.
