RIYADH: Riyadh will host the sixth edition of the National Urban Heritage Forum (NUHF) under the patronage of Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar, who is chairman of the Riyadh Tourism Development Council. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be a guest of honor country at the forum.
The heritage forum is organized by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) in one of the provinces every year in collaboration with the governorates, municipalities and local universities.
“The SCTNH is preparing to organize the sixth NUHF in April next year in Riyadh with the UAE as a guest of honor country,” an SCTNH official said on Saturday.
He revealed that the upcoming forum will include workshops for business persons under national and international experts and advisers in order to brief them on investment opportunities in urban heritage sites and their economic and cultural feasibility. To take advantage of international and regional experiences, the UAE will be the guest of honor country, he added.
The organizing committee has began communicating with major corporations and organizations to inform them about the investment climate of urban heritage sites, as well as push them to participate in building this important and promising economic sector.
Earlier, Meshari bin Abdullah Al-Naeem, general superintendent of the National Urban Heritage Center and the chief of the organizing committee of the forum said, “the sixth forum will be held in an advanced style different from the previous forums by focusing on building and establishing integrated economic sectors of urban heritage.”
“This time the forum will focus on linking architectural aspects with an economic model to ensure the realization of the SCTNH vision toward development of the tourism sector, especially in the urban heritage sector,” he added.
The organizing committee of the forum this year has started preparations for the forum in a different module, so that the relevant heritage economic sectors in urban areas are classified under four sectors: construction, restoration and contracting, urban heritage sites operation, urban heritage human resources development, and finally urban heritage related industries and services, according to which the forum will be organized.
Notably, the NUHF is organized annually as per the recommendations of the first International Conference for Urban Heritage in the Islamic Countries, which was organized by the SCTNH in collaboration with a number of authorities in Riyadh in 2010.
The first session of the NUHF was organized in Makkah Province; the second was held in the Eastern Province; the third session was held in Madinah Province; the fourth in Asir Province and the fifth session was held in Al-Qassim Province.
UAE to grace next Urban Heritage Forum in Riyadh
UAE to grace next Urban Heritage Forum in Riyadh
‘Masterpieces of Saudi Orchestra’ shine at Maraya in AlUla
- The concert on its opening night presented a seamless artistic journey, where orchestral works met Saudi musical identity
- It underlined the Music Commission’s aim to present Saudi artistry at a high professional level
RIYADH: The “Masterpieces of Saudi Orchestra” concert opened at Maraya Concert Hall in AlUla on Thursday under the patronage of the Kingdom’s Minister of Culture and Chairman of the board of the Music Commission Prince Bader bin Abdullah.
Organized by the Music Commission, the concert on its opening night presented a seamless artistic journey, where orchestral works met Saudi musical identity.
The Saudi National Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Maestro Hani Farhat, led audiences through carefully curated pieces reflecting heritage and modern creativity.
The repertoire combined traditional influences with orchestral scoring, offering listeners heritage-based compositions alongside recent arrangements.
Regional rhythms and layered musical textures were used to echo the Kingdom’s history, while pieces rooted in Saudi classical music tradition connected audiences with familiar cultural references in a fresh format.
The concert underlined the Music Commission’s aim to present Saudi artistry at a high professional level.
The series seeks to honor national heritage while encouraging contemporary artistic engagement, and its growing local and international presence was highlighted throughout the evening.
The program also featured a visual dimension led by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, which staged live performances of Saudi folk arts.
Audiences saw presentations of Samri, Dahha, Rafeihi, Yanbawi, Zair and Khabeeti, synchronized with the orchestra to create one integrated artistic experience.
These folk elements were arranged to complement the orchestral sound, reinforcing the richness and variety of Saudi cultural identity. The combination of music and movement aimed to show how traditional forms can engage with large-scale concert settings while retaining their historical character and community roots.
This performance is an extension of the series of successes achieved by the Saudi Orchestra’s masterpieces both locally and internationally, and reaffirms the Music Commission’s commitment to showcasing Saudi music in its finest form.
