Dr. Jasser Suleiman Al-Harbash worked as supervisor of the Saudi National Handi-crafts Program and served as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Missions, and Supervisor General of the Cultural Attachés Offices. He also held the po-sition of CEO of the General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage in Al-Qassim. He holds an MA and PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Connecticut, USA. Dr. Al-Harbash chairs the Heritage Commission, which aims to effectively develop the Kingdom's heritage properties and promote research activities related to national heritage.
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
"The Heritage Commission website represents an important window for introducing the heritage sector and the role of the country and society in its development, rehabilitation and utilization. Heritage in its general sense has multiple facets and is not limited to tangible material aspects. It includes handicrafts and traditional practices and extends to customs and traditions within its broader framework. All of which places a great national responsibility and greater challenges before the Heritage Commission, which require us to work devotedly to fulfill the confidence of HH the Minister of Culture, and to achieve the goals that the Ministry of Culture aspires from a specialized Heritage Commission.
The Heritage Commission is interested in cooperating with activists in the field both individuals and institutions in various regions of the Kingdom and working with them integratively, as we appreciate all the efforts made by activists and our role is to support, encourage and stimulate these efforts.
The Commission's work will comply with the general framework of the National Strategy for Culture, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030, and in accordance with best international practices that deal with national heritage not only as a cultural product but also as an economic product that generates job opportunities and contributes to the national GDP. There is no doubt that we are confident in the Commission’s ability to serve the national heritage as aspired relying on a number of factors, the first of which is the rich heritage of the Kingdom, the numerous activists in it, and the broad base of those interested in the field. This gives us an important and great starting point for initiating the project to develop and maintain the national heritage. The second factor is the great support that we received from HH the Minister of Culture, and his keenness to serve the national heritage with its cultural symbolism and national identity. This puts me with my team in the Commission under great responsibility to translate this support into tangible heritage achievements, in addition to the growth of social awareness regarding the necessity of preserving and maintaining cultural heritage."