Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Prince Sultan Bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Heritage (SCTH), announced on Friday that the Al-Ahsa Oasis, an evolving cultural landscape in eastern Saudi Arabia, has been officially included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

The prince added that Al-Ahsa had a fierce competition with other cities and world’s landmarks also in the fray.

He extended his thanks and gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for his constant support and keenness to enter the Kingdom’s historic sites in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Prince Sultan also praised the constant efforts of Emir of the Eastern Province Prince Saud Bin Naif for supporting the application of Al-Ahsa in the UNESCO competition as well as the efforts of Prince Badr Bin Mohamed Bin Jalawi, governor of Al-Ahsa, and the city's Mayor Adel Bin Mohamed Al-Mulhim, who worked hard on preparing the file of Al-Ahsa, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Al-Ahsa Oasis is the fifth Saudi landmark to join UNESCO’s World Heritage list. The other landmarks are Madain Saleh (2008), Al-Turaif District in historical Diriyah (2010), Historical Jeddah (2014) and the relics etched on the rocks of Jabbah and Al-Shuwaimis in Hail (2015).

Prince Sultan also thanked the people of Al-Ahsa for their efforts and great cooperation with Al-Ahsa Mayoralty in preparing the file, and their keenness to restore the historical, cultural and natural status of Al-Ahsa as one of the most important settlements for inhabitants in the Kingdom dating back to the 5th millennium BC, when it was known for its booming agricultural and advanced irrigation system.

Mayor Al-Mulhim said receiving such a prestigious international recognition is a motivation for the governorate and for the people of the region.

“This shows that we have a rich culture that is worth exploring. The people of Al-Ahsa always knew about their heritage. But now people from different parts of the Kingdom, the Arab and Muslim countries and the entire world will know about Al-Ahsa and what it has to offer,” said Al-Mulhim.

Al-Ahsa Oasis is considered the largest in the world with more than 3 million palm trees, and was included among the UNESCO’s World Heritage List during the committee meeting in Manama, Bahrain, under the chair of Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa of Bahrain and which started on June 24 and finishes on July 4.

Located between the Arabian Gulf shore and Al-Dahnaa Desert, the oasis also has 400,000 fruit trees. The oasis is 120 to 160 meters above sea level. The oasis produces over 100,000 tons of dates and 13,000 tons of fruit a year.

The UNESCO Cultural Sites’ list included 47 cities in 33 countries around the world.

Al-Ahsa is the first city from the Gulf to be included in the list.

Al-Ahsa represents 20 percent of the Kingdom’s agricultural area and is of great importance as it is home to largest oil fields with an area of 379,000 square km, and a population of about 1,800,000 people, located in the heart of the Arabian Gulf.