Fatima Muhammad

Saudi Gazette





The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has started to develop new museums in different regions and has also been working on turning some older palaces into museums, according to Awad Al-Zahrani, the general manager of museums at SCTA.

The current number of government museums under the umbrella of the SCTA is 28. It is also working on preparing 17 museums in different cities, and the number of private museums receiving support from the SCTA add up to 130 museums all of which have been licensed by the commission.

All museums are open for visitors around the week on two working shifts; daytime shift is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. while the evening one is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. All museums have tourist guides.

Museums in the Kingdom address different historic periods, as well as the different eras of Islam all the way until the present time. The regional museums focus also on the history and tradition of the specific regions where they are located.

Asked about women working in tourism sector he said they are still “very few.” They are working only in the national museum.

“The Kingdom will have female sections in the new developed museums and they will be assigned to welcome female students and will also be guiding women groups,” said Al-Zahrani.

There are number of procedures that private museums have to follow starting from obtaining a license from the SCTA as well as documenting and photographing all items.

Al-Zahrani said all displayed items at private museums are to be registered at the SCTA under the category “private groups.” Private owners are responsible of protecting these items and are not to make any changes in them. They have also to inform the SCTA immediately in case of any loss or damage. The price of tickets at private museums has to be arranged with the SCTA.

The opening of these museums should go with the activity times of the city, said Al-Zahrani, this he said means they are to open from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Private museums need to publish a guide for visitors and approved by the SCTA.

The buildings of private museums must have grand halls that have lighting and air-conditioning. Each hall has to be 40 square meters and the height has to be at least three meters. The museum must have two entrances, as well as multiple emergency exits. The building should have fire fighting equipment.

The location of the museum should be easy to reach. A private museum is also asked to show how displayed items were used in previous times.

Other requirements include providing maps, guides and direction signs at different locations.

The SCTA offers links at its website to the public and private museums, which, according to Al-Zahrani, are updated every now and then.