Conclusion of the third workshop for preparing the management plan for the “Hajj Routes: Darb Zubaydah” heritage sites
The third workshop for preparing the management plan for the “Hajj Routes: Darb Zubaydah” heritage sites, which stretches from Najaf Governorate in the Republic of Iraq to the holy city of Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has concluded with the support of the Heritage Commission and in collaboration with the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) in Bahrain and the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage in Iraq.
The workshop was held in the Bahraini capital, Manama, with the participation of experts in the fields of heritage and archaeology from both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Iraq. Its opening was attended by His Excellency Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Chairperson of ARC-WH’s Governing Board.
In his remarks, Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa stated that this workshop is part of the Regional Centre’s ongoing efforts to enhance the protection and management of heritage sites in the Arab region, as well as promote international cooperation for the preservation of this region’s rich and shared cultural heritage. In addition, these sites contribute significantly to the broader advancement of sustainable development efforts for local communities.
The Heritage Commission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirmed its commitment to supporting collaboration and knowledge exchange with the ARC-WH and the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, looking forward to a future filled with shared successes.
The workshop was conducted as part of capacity-building initiatives in the areas of heritage management and protection, including legal protection mechanisms, delineation of site boundaries, and the integration of Sustainable Development Goals into management and protection efforts. The programme consists of a workshop series for preparing the management plan for the “Hajj Routes: Darb Zubaydah” heritage sites aims to enhance capacity-building in heritage site management and protection, exchange experiences between the Saudi and Iraqi teams, and learn from ARC-WH’s expertise and best practices related to serial transnational World Heritage sites.
