Saudi Permanent Representative to the UNESCO Dr. Ibrahim Al-Balawi extended congratulations on Saturday to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, on Al-Ahsa Oasis’ inclusion on the World Heritage List, reported the Saudi Press Agency. Al-Balawi highlighted the leadership’s continuous efforts in preserving Saudi national heritage. He also extended congratulations to Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, president of Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, for his keenness to safeguard the Kingdom’s heritage. UNESCO announced Al-Ahsa Oasis’ listing on Friday. The lush oasis is dotted with yet-to-be-excavated archeological sites and carries traces of human occupation dating back to Neolithic times. Al-Ahsa "was a commercial center for the Hajar territory of Bahrain," reads the Saudi submission to UNESCO. "Archaeological evidence shows that it exchanged products from southern Arabia and Persia as well as throughout the Arabian Peninsula."