RIYADH: The Heritage Commission in Al-Ahsa highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts in registering 16 elements on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage during a workshop at Ibrahim Palace.

The event, held as part of the Al-Ahsa Deserves volunteer program, featured a paper reviewing the registrations, including the Ardah and Almezmar dances, Al-Qatt Al-Asiri interior wall art, Khawlani coffee and Taif roses.

It also highlighted 11 elements shared with other countries, such as the majlis, Saudi coffee, falconry, date palms, sadu weaving, Alheda’a calling of camels, Arabic calligraphy, harees, metal engraving, henna, and the semsemiah musical instrument.

The paper also explained the concept of “intangible cultural heritage,” which encompasses practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills and related tools, objects and artifacts, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

It referenced UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, ratified by Saudi Arabia in 2008, which aims to protect this heritage and raise awareness of its value locally and internationally. This field is one of the main sectors overseen by the commission, alongside antiquities, architectural heritage, and handicrafts.

Volunteers from the Al-Ahsa Deserves initiative also visited oasis farms to document the oral history of agricultural practices and traditional irrigation systems through direct meetings with farmers.

The commission organizes this volunteer event, ongoing until the end of November, in cooperation with UNESCO, the Saudi Irrigation Organization, Al-Ahsa Development Authority, Al-Ahsa Municipality, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa Chamber of Commerce, and the National Center for Palm and Dates.