Prince Sultan bin Salman chairs a meeting of the organizing committee for 5th National Urban Heritage Forum.

The fifth edition of National Urban Heritage Forum (NUHF) will open on Monday in Qassim under the patronage of Gov. Prince Faisal bin Mishaal in the presence of Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH), with Oman participating in the forum as guest-of-honor country.

“In its efforts to preserve urban heritage and develop capabilities as well as investments, besides exploring local, regional and international experiences in this field, the forum this year will host the Sultanate of Oman as the guest-of-honor country,” an SCTNH spokesman said here on Wednesday.

“Preparations are underway in Qassim province for holding the fifth session of the NUHF from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3,” he said adding that the SCTNH president chaired the meeting of the organizing committee for the 5th session to review the preparations.

The official further revealed that Oman will be represented by its Ministry of Culture and Heritage.

Moreover, Oman will participate in the forum with an exhibition on the “Urban heritage of Oman,” which will highlight the Omani experience in the development and preservation of urban heritage sites, their investment and employment in different areas, he added.

He further pointed out that the forum will witness the launch of a number of initiatives and projects on urban heritage in the hosting region, in addition to featuring a major exhibition and workshops in which many public and private sector authorities, experts, associations and centers concerned with urban heritage will take part.

Commenting on Oman participating as the guest country, Meshari Al-Naim, NUHF general supervisor, said: “Hosting Oman in the upcoming forum as the guest of honor is intended to highlight their knowledge and experience in the preservation of national urban heritage.”

“This falls under the relentless effort of the SCTNH to explore the successful experiences in the Gulf region in order to utilize them in promoting the efforts of urban heritage preservation and development in the Kingdom,” he added.

This year’s forum will also devote within its events a special workshop to be hosted at the King Khalid Heritage Center in Buraidah for the Omani scholars and researchers to highlight the expertise of their country in the preservation and development of urban heritage buildings and sites, he said.

Notably, the forum is held annually in one of the provinces in collaboration with the governorates, municipalities and local universities to celebrate the importance of urban heritage, mobilize awareness on such initiatives and discuss related issues through heritage specialists.

The forum is held annually as per 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 May 2010.

The first session of the NUHF was held in Makkah under the patronage of Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal; the second session was held in the Eastern Province under the patronage of then Gov. Prince Mohammad bin Fahad; the third session was held in Madinah under the patronage of Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman; and fourth session was held in Asir under the patronage of Gov. Prince Faisal bin Khaled.

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