RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Authority and the Hail Region Development Authority have signed a cooperation deal to strengthen partnership, integration and cooperation in preserving national heritage in Hail and safeguard its buildings and sites of architectural heritage. The agreement was signed by Omar Abduljabbar, CEO of Hail Region Development Authority, and Sultan Al-Saleh, director general of partnerships and business development at the Heritage Authority, in Riyadh. The agreement stipulated several areas of cooperation that include protecting and preserving cultural heritage sites in Hail and cooperating in the works of World Heritage Sites, research, survey and archaeological excavation. It also included joint cooperation in scientific publishing of surveys and excavation works, preservation of architectural heritage sites and development of heritage villages and inner cities in the region. The deal included a joint contribution agreement to restore, operate, invest and categorize architectural heritage buildings and participation in supervising restoration works. It outlined joint cooperation in the area of crafts and handicrafts through cooperating in establishing houses for craftspeople in Hail’s provinces that aim to produce, sell and exhibit products for visitors and empower and train craftspeople. The cooperation agreement comes in the context of the Hail Region Development Authority’s efforts in the comprehensive planning and development of the region. The Heritage Authority aims to enhance its partnership with government and private agencies related to national heritage and promote the implementation of joint projects and programs to support, protect and develop the national heritage sector. This is in line with the authority’s responsibilities for organizing, developing and enhancing the heritage sector in the Kingdom, and encouraging its practitioners.