Business & Money | Saturday 11 April, 2015 1:42 pm |

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman inaugurated on Thursday the historic Al-Bijairi project in Diriyah district that served as the first Saudi capital and platform of the reformist call in the Arabian Peninsula during the reign of the first Saudi state.
Diriyah houses historical documents and other valuable materials dating back to the period of Imam Muhammad bin Saud and Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahab in 1157H (1744), when it was chosen as the capital.

The project is being implemented by the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh (ADA) as part of an ambitious program that aims to convert Diriyah from a historical site into a cultural-cum-tourism center at the national level. Al-Bijairi is now one of cultural suburbs in Diriyah whose significance will be boosted following implementation of the landmark scheme.

The high profile event was attended by top royal family members and officials, including Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).
Speaking on the occasion, Prince Faisal bin Bandar, Riyadh governor and ADA head, said: "In this place, the home of civilization, and the source of Arabism since ancient times, Diriyah stands as the first capital of the Saudi state and the seat of governance and leadership.”

Prince Faisal, who is also chairman of the high executive committee for Diriyah’s development, said Saudi Arabia feels proud today of developing one of the best heritage and cultural projects in the region, namely the Diriyah development program, said to be a modern example of an urban oasis in the world.
Prince Sultan bin Salman said Diriyah represents three centuries of Islamic unity, security and peace. The project, which is linked to Saudi Arabia's state and cultural heritage, is the first national project to be inaugurated by King Salman and was not possible without the grace of God.

During the event, Prince Sultan announced a "Live in Saudi Arabia” initiative to strengthen the sense of belonging and instill in citizens the pride for their heritage. According to him, the initiative aims to enable a million students to visit sites across the country and get to know about it and know that Saudi Arabia did not arise by chance and was not suddenly built.

“Our grandfathers believed in the message of unity and they … carried the banner of the greatest religion whose bright light has gone beyond and benefited the world at large,” Prince Sultan added.