Saudi Arabia Adds Nearly 10,000 Urban Heritage Sites

The Heritage Commission has registered 9,586 new urban heritage sites across the Kingdom, raising the national total to 59,586 documented sites. The registration was carried out in two phases, beginning with 3,000 sites and followed by a larger batch of 6,586.

The largest regional additions came from Asir with 4,363 sites, Al-Baha with 2,547, and Makkah with 1,755. The move expands the country's official record of buildings and landscapes that reflect its architectural history and local identity.

For urban heritage assets, the documentation process follows a clear sequence: discovering the asset, nominating it, registering it, classifying it, and finally encoding it. The National Urban Heritage Register also handles a range of related services, including classification, requesting cancellation of registration, approval to dispose of a site, canceling a protection zone, approving transfer of ownership, and the sale of urban heritage sites.

How to report a site

Residents who come across an unregistered urban heritage site can report it through the online archaeological report service, the commission's official account on X, or its regional branches and offices. Reports can also be made through the Unified Security Operations Center on 911.

In a related update, 180 modern urban heritage landmarks in the Riyadh were registered and coded on 29 July 2026. The wider effort matters to communities across the Kingdom because it helps safeguard historic neighborhoods and traditional buildings, supporting cultural tourism and preserving local character for future generations.

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