JEDDAH: The Saudi Heritage Commission approved the registration and documentation of 190 new archaeological sites in the national register of antiquities this week. There are now 8,788 such locations in the national register across the country, according to reports. Asir region in the southwest of the Kingdom has the largest number with 35, followed by Al-Jouf in the north with 32, Tabuk in the northwest with 31, Hail in the center with 23, Al-Qassim with 22, and the Eastern Province with 20. Of the new registrations, 11 are in Jazan, 10 in the Makkah region, five in Al-Baha, and one in Madinah. FAST FACTS • The Kingdom has several archeological sites that are recognized internationally, including Hegra in AlUla which was the first World Heritage property to be inscribed in Saudi Arabia in 2008. • This was followed by At- Turaif District in Diriyah in 2010, then Historic Jeddah in 2014, Rock Art in the Hail region in 2015, Al-Ahsa Oasis in 2018, and Hima Cultural Area in Jazan in 2021. The registration of these sites is based on the criteria contained in the Antiquities and Architectural Heritage System issued by royal decree in November 2014. The Heritage Commission’s registration is followed by the sites being mapped digitally to ensure ease of management, protection and preservation. The Heritage Commission has called on members of the public to report any sites they discover on the Balagh platform at https://contactcenter.moc.gov.sa . New sites could also be reported to the commission on its Twitter account and through its regional branches. The Kingdom has several archeological sites that are recognized internationally, including Hegra in AlUla which was the first World Heritage property to be inscribed in Saudi Arabia in 2008. This was followed by At-Turaif District in Diriyah in 2010, then Historic Jeddah in 2014, Rock Art in the Hail region in 2015, Al-Ahsa Oasis in 2018, and Hima Cultural Area in Jazan in 2021.