From February 9 to 13, 2025, the city of Hail in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosted the final workshop of the “Capacity-Building Programme on the Preparation of an Interpretation Strategy for Darb Zubaydah Site.” This workshop represents a pivotal step in the efforts to preserve this historic route, which historically connected the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Iraq.
The workshop marks the culmination of a series of training courses and practical workshops launched in July of the previous year. The programme aims to develop a comprehensive approach to interpreting and presenting Darb Zubaydah in line with international standards for the protection and management of World Heritage sites. The programme was organised by the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) and the Saudi Heritage Commission, in cooperation with the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage and the International Centre for the Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage Sites (WHIPIC) in the Republic of Korea. A group of specialists from Saudi Arabia and Iraq participated in the workshop.
In this context, ARC-WH emphasised that the workshop is not merely a theoretical training session but a practical step toward implementing an integrated interpretation and presentation strategy for Darb Zubaydah. This strategy highlights the site’s historical and cultural significance, engages the community by connecting them with their heritage, and contributes to the site’s sustainability while ensuring continued conservation efforts.
During his opening speech, Dr. Jasir Al-Herbesh, CEO of the Saudi Heritage Commission, stated that the programme was designed to strengthen collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Iraq in developing effective frameworks and methods for managing Darb Zubaydah, an essential pilgrimage route. He added that this initiative is a step toward presenting the site to the world in the future as a transnational heritage site.
Throughout the workshop, participants exchanged knowledge and expertise on how to present the story of Darb Zubaydah using modern and interactive methods that enhance visitor engagement. The sessions focused on reviewing the challenges associated with the site and exploring innovative solutions to highlight its historical and cultural value. Additionally, the workshop included intensive training sessions and field visits to one of Darb Zubaydah’s main sites in Saudi Arabia.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants worked on developing an action plan to ensure the best methods are applied to effectively communicate the history of this significant route.
Developing innovative storytelling approaches for Darb Zubaydah is a key component of ensuring the long-term preservation and sustainability of the historic route. The goal is to transform it from a mere archaeological site into a living experience that transports visitors back to its era of prosperity as one of the most important pilgrimage routes in the Islamic world. This initiative also helps emphasise the global significance of this historic road, which was a vital part of the network of routes connecting the Arabian Peninsula with the wider Islamic world for centuries.
The post The Final Workshop of the Capacity-Building Programme on the preparation of an Interpretation strategy for Darb Zubaydah Site Held in Hail, Saudi Arabia appeared first on Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH).