Balancing heritage and modernization: the challenges and opportunities of cultural heritage conservation in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is developing a hybrid heritage-governance model that successfully integrates conservation with modernization, offering valuable lessons for other rapidly transforming contexts. This approach combines centralized strategic direction with distributed institutional and community roles, as demonstrated by case studies in Al-Turaif District (Diriyah) and Al-Ahsa Oasis. While progress has been made in institutional reform, heritage documentation, and international collaboration, gaps remain in formal community participation, intangible heritage transmission, inter-agency coordination, and the verification of economic and technological outcomes. The study recommends stronger coordination mechanisms, accountable community co-management, and closer alignment between tourism development, conservation funding, and local benefit to further enhance this model.

Alnaim, M. M., & Alnaim, M. A. (2026). Balancing heritage and modernization: the challenges and opportunities of cultural heritage conservation in Saudi Arabia. Frontiers in Built Environment, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1927868