ALIPH to open first regional HQ in Riyadh

Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan. (SPA)
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Updated 02 February 2026
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ALIPH to open first regional HQ in Riyadh

  • The new agreement between Saudi Arabia and ALIPH underscores the Kingdom’s efforts to preserve and protect cultural heritage

RIYADH: The Ministry of Culture and the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage have signed an agreement to establish ALIPH’s first regional headquarters in Riyadh, reinforcing the Kingdom’s commitment to cultural heritage protection.

The new office will play a pivotal role in efforts to protect and preserve cultural heritage in conflict, post-conflict, and crisis areas, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

The agreement was signed in Riyadh by Assistant Minister of Culture Rakan Altouq, on behalf of Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, and ALIPH Foundation Board Chair Bariza Khiari.

Saudi Arabia has been an ALIPH member since its founding in 2017. ALIPH has partnered with international organizations, including UNESCO, and operated in countries affected by conflict, environmental disasters, and instability, supporting hundreds of institutions worldwide.

The new agreement between Saudi Arabia and ALIPH underscores the Kingdom’s efforts to preserve and protect cultural heritage.

 


The founding economy: A blueprint for stability in the First Saudi State

Updated 23 February 2026
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The founding economy: A blueprint for stability in the First Saudi State

  • The establishment of the First Saudi State created a secure environment that facilitated the arrival of caravans, secured vast trade routes, and revived commerce across the Arabian Peninsula

RIYADH: The economy during the founding stage of the First Saudi State served as a fundamental pillar in building the nation, consolidating its influence, and ensuring its stability. This early economic growth was inextricably linked to achieving security, unifying regions, and organizing society—factors that directly stimulated trade, stabilized markets, and enhanced the foundations of daily life in Diriyah and its surrounding areas.
According to Dr. Abdullah Al-Saleh Al-Othaimeen's "Diriyah: Origins and Development during the First Saudi State," published by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), the founding economy stands as a historical model reflecting the reciprocal relationship between political stability and early economic prosperity.

Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. (SPA)

The establishment of the First Saudi State created a secure environment that facilitated the arrival of caravans, secured vast trade routes, and revived commerce across the Arabian Peninsula.
Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. Its active markets attracted merchants and students from across the region, all of whom benefited from the state-provided stability. The local society relied on diverse activities for its livelihood, including trade, agriculture, and livestock breeding, with horses and camels playing crucial roles in transportation, commerce, and securing roads.
The social and administrative organization upon which the state was founded ensured the continuous availability of goods and sustained market stability. Ultimately, the close relationship between public security and economic growth during this founding phase solidified Diriyah's position as a premier political and commercial center in the Arabian Peninsula.