Visitors at the exhibition in Al-Kharj

The Al-Kharj Municipality in Riyadh province has launched a national expo as part of a comprehensive campaign to promote the rich cultural heritage and values of the Kingdom.

The expo entitled “Our Homeland is a Trust,” which kicked off Thursday, will run for a year, organizers said.

Shebaily bin Majdo Al-Majdo, mayor of Al-Kharj, is a patron of the exhibition, while a number of local public and private organizations are participating in the expo.

The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) branch in the Al-Kharj Municipality is also extending its cooperation to the expo to guarantee its success.

Director of the SCTA branch in Riyadh, Saad Al Mahana, said: “This exhibition is part of a comprehensive campaign to enhance national values in the municipality.”

The year-long campaign will include a number of programs, cultural and heritage events, entertainment and competitions.

According to the organizers, the programs will also highlight local archaeological and heritage landmarks including the heritage water wells, King Abdul Aziz Mosque, which is the oldest landmark in Al-Kharj, and the King Abdul Aziz Palace in the city, which is undergoing renovation by the authorities in the Riyadh region to transform it into a historical center in line with plans to establish a museum for Al-Kharj municipality inside the historical palace.

The authorities are also raising awareness of the importance of cultural assets to transform them into an economic resource for the benefit of local communities as a source of employment.

With this view, Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz University (SAU), Al-Kharj and the SCTA recently signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in documenting heritage and historical sites, rehabilitation of tourism human resources and supporting the university in the establishment of a college of tourism and antiquities, besides cooperation in the areas of statistical surveys and scientific research in the fields of tourism and national heritage.