Ties between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are deep-rooted, Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH), has said. 

“The two countries have a long and common history of civilization and one is an extension to the other,” he said.

In a press statement on the sidelines of the 42nd Session of the World Heritage Committee in Manama, he praised Bahrain’s interest in cooperating and collaborating with the Kingdom on all levels. 

He also underlined the importance of having the UNESCO Middle East bureau in Bahrain. 

Prince Sultan said: “Saudi had always supported Bahrain and worked to have it as the Arab tourism capital, because Bahrain is an extension for Saudi Arabia. There are common cultures and interests between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.”

“We are working on organizing exhibitions in Bahrain, similarly to the UAE, Kuwait and other countries,” he said.

Prince Sultan said the Al-Ahsa Oasis, which is very important for the Kingdom, is among the 30 sites that UNESCO will consider for World Heritage Site status. 

“It is one of the most difficult files that Saudi Arabia has worked on. The file still needs some amendments to meet the UNESCO conditions,” he said. 

He added that the site might require additional work despite everything done by the committee and its partners in Al-Ahsa.

Asked about the impact of wars on human heritage, Prince Sultan said he wished these wars would come to an end because people’s lives are more important than anything else. 

“When we destroy heritage sites of a country, we are destroying its people as well. Heritage is part of the personality of men and the source of their pride, and this is why UNESCO is working hard and doing a great job in this regard,” he said.

Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, crown prince of Bahrain, launched the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee on Sunday. 

He welcomed the participants in the UNESCO meeting, including more than 2,000 experts in cultural and natural heritage.

He stressed that hosting this international meeting, after winning the chairmanship of the committee last year, represents an important moment in the course of Bahrain’s distinctive efforts to highlight its historical and cultural identity.

The meetings will go on till Friday, during which the Committee will examine a number of sites submitted by countries to be registered in the World Heritage List, including Al-Ahsa Oasis.