RIYADH: Entry to the National Museum at the King Abdul Aziz Historical Center in Riyadh, which is hosting a number of events and programs including exhibitions accompanying the first Saudi Archaeology Convention that began Tuesday, will be free to visitors.

“Prince Sultan bin Salman, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH), has directed authorities to cancel the entry fee to the National Museum for 50 days from the opening day of the archaeology convention,” the SCTH media department said Tuesday.

“With this free entry, the SCTH president has made it possible for people to visit the exhibitions accompanying the convention being held at the National Museum that will last for next 50 days,” it added.

The National Museum, besides a number of major events, activities and workshops, is hosting exhibitions including the famous “Roads of Arabia” exhibition, which has to date been organized in 11 internationally famed museums in Europe, America, China and South Korea, and enjoying the wide attention of world media.

Other exhibitions at the National Museum include the recovered antiquities exhibition; the recent archaeological discoveries exhibition; an exhibition reflecting Saudi kings’ care of Kingdom’s antiquities and national heritage, which will be held in partnership with the King Abdul Aziz Research Center (Darah); a photo exhibition on the restoration of Al-Hejaz railway station in Madinah in partnership with Al-Turath Foundation; the Saudi Geological Survey exhibition; a commemorative stamps exhibition; the historic photos exhibition; the pioneers of archaeology in the Kingdom exhibition; archaeology specialized books; a handicraft exhibition; and a fine arts exhibition.

These specialized exhibitions will remain open for visitors for 50 days along with a gala display of cultural, social and tourism events, competitions and artistic shows in the courtyard of the National Museum.

There will also be educational plays on antiquities and excavations, in addition to various folk shows, and a display of several full-length models representing major Saudi archaeological and heritage sites, and handicraft shows.

In conjunction with the convention, a number of programs accompanying the forum will be organized including a range of activities reflecting the cultural heritage of the Kingdom.