UNESCO World Heritage destinations unite to share knowledge, improve conservation, and inspire travellers through living history and cultural exchange.

Two of the world’s most remarkable open-air heritage destinations, AlUla in north-west Saudi Arabia and Pompeii in southern Italy, have come together in a new collaboration that will redefine how travellers experience the past.

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) recently hosted a high-level delegation from the Archaeological Park of Pompeii (PAP) led by Director Dr. Gabriel Zuchtriegel as part of the Saudi-Italian Cultural Cooperation Framework. The visit marked a deepening of cultural ties between the two UNESCO World Heritage sites and explored how shared expertise can enhance conservation, interpretation, and visitor experience.

Set amid sweeping desert canyons and lush oases, AlUla is a living museum of human civilization. Its signature site, Hegra, was the first place in Saudi Arabia inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is home to monumental tombs carved by the Nabataeans more than 2,000 years ago. Surrounding it are ancient kingdoms at Dadan, mystical inscriptions at Jabal Ikmah, and the mudbrick lanes of Old Town, all revealing more than 200,000 years of continuous human history.

Over several days, experts from Pompeii and AlUla exchanged insights on how heritage sites can evolve to meet the expectations of modern travellers while safeguarding authenticity. Workshops and site tours focused on conservation methods, visitor flow, digital storytelling, and sustainable tourism.

Phillip Jones, Chief Tourism Officer at RCU, stated, “Traveller’s today are not just looking at history, they want to feel part of it. Through collaborations like this, we are ensuring that when people walk through Hegra or Pompeii, they connect with the stories, craftsmanship, and cultures that shaped our world. It is about preserving the past while inspiring the traveller of tomorrow.”

The visit also demonstrated the complementary nature of both destinations. While Pompeii represents a moment frozen in time, AlUla tells a story of resilience and continuity, where heritage, landscape, and living culture remain intertwined.

Dr. Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani, Vice President of Cultural at RCU, remarked, “Pompeii’s urban archaeology and AlUla’s landscape archaeology present two very different approaches to uncovering the past. By combining these perspectives, we are building new methods of conservation and site interpretation that can elevate the visitor experience for years to come.”

Dr. Gabriel Zuchtriegel shared that collaboration between the two destinations extends beyond science. “Pompeii and AlUla share a belief that heritage can be a bridge between cultures. We are united by a mission to protect history and to invite visitors to engage with it responsibly, sustainably, and with wonder.”

The RCU-Italy partnership extends far beyond archaeology, encompassing design, craftsmanship, and education. Future projects include the Pompeii G.R.E.E.N. Conference on Sustainable Heritage Management and joint exhibitions celebrating cultural exchange between Saudi Arabia and Italy.

As Silvia Barbone, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at RCU, said: “This visit marks the first milestone since our partnership with Pompeii was signed in AlUla in the presence of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, symbolizing a new chapter in Saudi-Italian cultural cooperation. Through this collaboration, we will work together on heritage management and enhancing visitor experiences, integrating culture with landscape and agriculture to ensure that heritage remains a living resource that educates, inspires, and sustains communities for generations to come.”

For travellers, this collaboration promises to offer engaging storytelling, advanced conservation techniques, and immersive experiences that make history come alive, whether walking the sun-baked streets of Pompeii or exploring the ancient tombs of Hegra beneath AlUla’s desert stars.