Editing Saudi Arabia (section)

=== Heritage sites ===
{{See also|Mecca|Medina|Destruction of early Islamic heritage sites in Saudi Arabia|Tourism in Saudi Arabia|Saudi Heritage Preservation Society}}
[[File:The old city of Adummatu.jpg|thumb|right|The 3000-year-old ancient historical city of [[Dumat al-Jandal]] in [[Al Jawf Province]]]]

Saudi Wahhabism is hostile to any reverence given to historical or religious places of significance for fear that it may give rise to [[Shirk (Islam)|'shirk']] (idolatry), and the most significant historic Muslim sites (in Mecca and Medina) are located in the western Saudi region of the Hejaz.<ref name="Arabia: the Cradle of Islam" /> As a consequence, under Saudi rule an estimated 95% of Mecca's historic buildings, most over a thousand years old, [[Destruction of early Islamic heritage sites in Saudi Arabia|have been demolished]] for religious reasons.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/the-destruction-of-mecca-saudi-hardliners-are-wiping-out-their-own-heritage-501647.html 'The destruction of Mecca: Saudi hardliners are wiping out their own heritage'], ''The Independent'', 6 August 2005. Retrieved 17 January 2011</ref> Critics claim that over the last 50 years, 300 historic sites linked to Muhammad, his family or companions have been lost,<ref>[http://www.islamicpluralism.org/764/islamic-heritage-lost-as-makkah-modernises 'Islamic heritage lost as Makkah modernises'] Center for Islamic Pluralism</ref> leaving fewer than 20 structures remaining in Mecca that date back to the time of Muhammad.<ref name="independent.co.uk">[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/shame-of-the-house-of-saud-shadows-over-mecca-474736.html 'Shame of the House of Saud: Shadows over Mecca'], The Independent, 19 April 2006</ref> Demolished structures include the mosque originally built by Muhammad's daughter [[Fatima bint Muhammad|Fatima]], and other mosques founded by [[Abu Bakr]] (Muhammad's father-in-law and the first [[caliph]]), [[Umar ibn al-Khattab|Umar]] (the second caliph), [[Ali ibn Abi Talib|Ali]] (Muhammad's son-in-law and the fourth caliph), and [[Salman al-Farsi]] (another of Muhammad's companions).<ref>[http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/saudi_destruction_of_muslim_historical_sites/ Destruction of Islamic Architectural Heritage in Saudi Arabia: A Wake-up Call], The American Muslim. Retrieved 17 January 2011
Other historic buildings that have been destroyed include the house of [[Khadija bint Khuwaylid|Khadijah]], the wife of Muhammad, the house of [[Abu Bakr]], now the site of the local [[Hilton hotel]]; the house of Ali-Oraid, the grandson of Muhammad, and the Mosque of Abu-Qubais, now the location of the King's palace in Mecca. (source: [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/shame-of-the-house-of-saud-shadows-over-mecca-474736.html 'Shame of the House of Saud: Shadows over Mecca'], ''The Independent'', 19 April 2006)</ref>[[File:MasjidNabawi.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Mosque of the Prophet]] in [[Medina]] containing the tomb of [[Muhammad]]]]Seven cultural sites in Saudi Arabia are designated as [[UNESCO World Heritage Sites]]: Al-Hijr Archaeological Site ([[Mada'in Saleh|Madâin Sâlih]]);<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1293/|title=Al-Hijr Archaeological Site (Madâin Sâlih)|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|access-date=24 April 2019}}</ref> the [[Turaif district]] in Diriyah;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1329/|title=At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|access-date=24 April 2019}}</ref> Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Mecca;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1361/|title=Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|access-date=24 April 2019}}</ref> [[Al-Ahsa Oasis]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1563/|title=Al-Ahsa Oasis, an Evolving Cultural Landscape|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|access-date=24 April 2019}}</ref> [[Rock Art in the Ha'il Region|Rock Art in the Hail Region]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1472/|title=Rock Art in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|access-date=24 April 2019}}</ref> [[Bir Hima Rock Petroglyphs and Inscriptions|Ḥimā Cultural Area]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1619 |title=Ḥimā Cultural Area|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref> and [['Uruq Bani Ma'arid]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1699 |title='Uruq Bani Ma'arid |author=<!--Not stated--> |publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |access-date=2024-03-12 }}</ref> Ten other sites submitted requests for recognition to UNESCO in 2015.<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/sa/ KSA Properties inscribed on the World Heritage List (4)], Unesco, 2017</ref> There are six elements inscribed on [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists|UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list]]:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/state|title=UNESCO – Saudi Arabia|website=ich.unesco.org|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-date=20 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520153604/https://ich.unesco.org/en/state|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Al-Qatt Al-Asiri]], female traditional interior wall decoration in Asir; [[Almezmar in Saudi Arabia|Almezmar]], drumming and dancing with sticks; [[Falconry]], a living human heritage; [[Arabic coffee]], a symbol of generosity; [[Majlis]], a cultural and social space; Alardah Alnajdiyah, dance, drumming and poetry in Saudi Arabia.

In June 2014, the Council of Ministers approved a law that gives the [[Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage]] the means to protect Saudi Arabia's ancient relics and historic sites. Within the framework of the 2016 National Transformation Programme, also known as [[Saudi Vision 2030]], the kingdom allocated 900 million euros to preserve its historical and cultural heritage.<ref>[http://ksamissioneu.net/en/saudi-arabia-to-spend-1bn-on-cultural-heritage/ Saudi Arabia to Spend $1Bn On Cultural Heritage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903164543/http://ksamissioneu.net/en/saudi-arabia-to-spend-1bn-on-cultural-heritage/ |date=3 September 2017 }}, KSA Mission EU, 30 June 2016</ref> Saudi Arabia also participates in the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas, created in March 2017, with a contribution of 18.5 million euros.<ref>[https://www.sciencesetavenir.fr/archeo-paleo/archeologie/destruction-du-patrimoine-une-resolution-historique-du-conseil-de-securite_111642 Destruction du patrimoine : une résolution historique du Conseil de Sécurité], Sciences et Avenir, 28 March 2017</ref>

In 2017, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman promised to return Saudi Arabia to the "moderate Islam" of the era before the 1979 Iranian revolution.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chulov |first=Marin |date=24 October 2017 |title=I will return Saudi Arabia to moderate Islam, says crown prince |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/24/i-will-return-saudi-arabia-moderate-islam-crown-prince |work=The Guardian|access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref> A new centre, the King Salman Complex for the Prophet's Hadith, was established that year to monitor interpretations of the Prophet Mohammed's hadiths to prevent them being used to justifying terrorism.<ref>{{cite news |last=Al Wasmi |first=Naser |date=20 June 2018 |title=Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's dynamic year of reform |url=https://www.thenational.ae/world/gcc/saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-s-dynamic-year-of-reform-1.742510 |work=[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]] |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref>

In March 2018, the Crown Prince met the Archbishop of Canterbury during a visit to the UK, pledging to promote interfaith dialogue. In Riyadh the following month King Salman met the head of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Catholic cardinal meets Saudi King in historic visit to Riyadh|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-saudi-vatican/catholic-cardinal-meets-saudi-king-in-historic-visit-to-riyadh-idUKKBN1HP1T5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527090408/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-saudi-vatican/catholic-cardinal-meets-saudi-king-in-historic-visit-to-riyadh-idUKKBN1HP1T5 |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 May 2018 |work=Reuters |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref> In July 2019, UNESCO signed a letter with the Saudi Minister of Culture in which Saudi Arabia contributed US$25 million to UNESCO for the preservation of heritage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/news/saudi-arabia-commits-us25-million-unesco-protection-heritage|title=Saudi Arabia commits US$25 million to UNESCO for the protection of heritage|date=12 July 2019|website=UNESCO|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref>

On November 5, 2024, archeologists published the news of an ancient city discovered in the Saudi oasis of [[Khaybar]]. The city named al-Natah, that dates back some 4,000 years, was inhabited during the Bronze Age around 2,400 BC, and had about 500 houses. Not far, a cluster of graves was found, within them metal weapons.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-05 |title=Archaeology breakthrough! 4,000-year-old fort city found hidden in Saudi oasis |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/saudi-arabia-oasis-fort-city-b2641611.html |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>