Wadi Al-Dawasir Governorate

Wadi Al-Dawasir Governorate is a governorate in Riyadh Region, and it contains the Al-Faw Archaeological Area, which lies in the south of the region and has been inscribed on the World Heritage List.[1]

The site's nomination file was prepared with the participation of the Heritage Commission, the National Committee, the Emirate of Riyadh Region, the National Center for Wildlife, King Saud University and the local community of Wadi Al-Dawasir Governorate.[1]

The Al-Faw Archaeological Area lies at the junction of the Rub' al-Khali Desert with the terrain of the Tuwaiq Mountains range, where the narrow passage known as Al-Faw is formed.[1]

The coordinates of the archaeological area are recorded at latitude 19° 45′ 53.7″ north and longitude 45° 9′ 48.2″ east.[2]

The Cultural Landscape of the Al-Faw Archaeological Area was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1446 AH/2024 CE.[1]

The inscribed property covers 4,847.73 hectares, about 48.5 square kilometres, while the buffer zone surrounding it covers 27,548.33 hectares, about 275 square kilometres.[1][2]

The site holds architectural elements attributed to the "City of Caravans" that stood at Qaryat Al-Faw, among them an ancient oasis that contained a group of irrigation systems.[1]

The Council of Ministers approved the transfer of ownership of the visitor centre at the Al-Faw archaeological site in Wadi Al-Dawasir Governorate from King Saud University to the Heritage Commission.[3]

Wadi Al-Dawasir Governorate was placed in Category (B) within the classification schedule of cities, governorates and centres in Annex (2) of the implementing regulations of the Real Estate Brokerage System.[4]

The municipality of Wadi Al-Dawasir Governorate was classified among the "Category (B) municipalities" in the classification schedule of secretariats and municipalities approved for the application of the fees regulations for tobacco products.[5]

A ministerial decision approved the start of procedures to expropriate part of a property in Wadi Al-Dawasir Governorate, Riyadh Region, overlapping the right-of-way of a 33-kilovolt overhead line, in favour of the Saudi Electricity Company.[6]

The decision forms part of the work to strengthen the reliability of the electricity grid in Riyadh Region.[6]

The Wajid aquifer in Wadi Al-Dawasir was excluded from the permitting of new well drilling on the sedimentary shelf, given the sharp decline in its water levels.[7]

Q: Where is Wadi Al-Dawasir Governorate located? A: In Riyadh Region; it contains the Al-Faw Archaeological Area in the south of the region, at the junction of the Rub' al-Khali Desert with the Tuwaiq Mountains.[1]

Q: When was the site inscribed on the World Heritage List? A: In 1446 AH/2024 CE.[1]

Q: What are the areas of the site and of its buffer zone? A: 4,847.73 hectares (about 48.5 km²) for the site, and 27,548.33 hectares (about 275 km²) for the buffer zone.[2]

Q: What are the most prominent archaeological components of the site? A: Architectural elements attributed to the "City of Caravans" and an ancient oasis that contained a group of irrigation systems.[1]

Q: How were the governorate and its municipality classified? A: The governorate was placed in Category (B) within the classification schedule of cities, governorates and centres, and its municipality was classified among the "Category (B) municipalities".[4][5]

The Al-Faw site brings together a world heritage inscription and a geographical position at the meeting point of the Rub' al-Khali and the Tuwaiq Mountains, and it is matched by official care that includes the transfer of the visitor centre's ownership to the Heritage Commission and the preparation of the nomination file with the participation of government bodies and the local community.[1][3]