Saudi ICOMOS and RCU Organize an International Symposium on Conservation of Rupestrian Heritage Sites in November 2025
Saudi ICOMOS and RCU Organize an International Symposium on Conservation of Rupestrian Heritage Sites in November 2025
The Saudi National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Saudi ICOMOS), in collaboration with the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), will host the AlUla International Symposium on Sustainable Conservation of Rupestrian Heritage Sites, in AlUla from November 25 to 27, 2025.
The symposium will bring together international experts in rock mechanics, engineering geology, geosciences, as well as heritage conservation specialists, UNESCO World Heritage site managers, and professionals involved in protecting sites affected by geological risks.
The event aims to foster scientific exchange and dialogue on sustainable strategies for conserving rock heritage, present case studies and technological innovations in geological and environmental risk management, and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration among experts in conservation, geology, engineering, and heritage management.
The symposium will address a wide range of topics related to the sustainable conservation of rupestrian heritage sites, including the preservation of rock art, heritage sites affected by geological hazards, rock mass characterization, remote sensing applications, monitoring and observation systems, climate change impacts, weathering processes, advanced modeling, and innovative geophysical studies.
In addition, the symposium will present in-depth investigations of sites impacted by both rapid and slow-onset geological hazards, such as rock slope instability, heavy rainfall, aeolian erosion, weathering, and rising groundwater levels, along with the strategies implemented for conservation and risk mitigation.
It is worth noting that AlUla was chosen as the host location for this international event due to its outstanding rupestrian heritage, including Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its monumental Nabataean tombs carved into sandstone cliffs, as well as the ancient cities of Dadan and Lihyan in Khuraybah, and the rock art and inscriptions of Jabal Ikmah.