Tourism & Hospitality | Saturday 7 March, 2015 1:28 am |

Upon directives from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA) has decided to honor ten private museum owners.
The awards will be given at the Riyadh International Book Fair for 2015 which is being held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.
Hussain Abu Al-Hassan, SCTA vice president for antiquities and museums, said that honoring the owners is geared towards supporting and encouraging them for their efforts to maintain cultural facilities.
He added that the honoring criteria is based on the excellent role that private museums are expected to play, particularly in museum showcase techniques, as well as for the way that they constantly receive visitors and introduce them to Saudi heritage. Through this, the authenticity, history and identity of the Kingdom's provinces are clearly reflected for the world to see.
Awad Al-Zahrani, director general of the National Museum, said that the private museums to be honored are located across the ten provinces of the Kingdom.
These private museums, he noted, are ready to receive visitors and tourists at all times, and the owners are keen to establish them inside heritage buildings.
Saad Al-Ghatani, SCTA director of private museums, added, “All of the owners are sparing no efforts in developing their museums in collaboration with the SCTA. This will contribute greatly to generating job opportunities.”
The museum owners to be honoured include Hamad bin Sulaiman Al-Salim (Al-Salim Museum, Eshaigir district, Riyadh), Ali bin Khalaf Al-Shareef (Al-Shareef Museum, Taif), Mohammad Hamad Khelais Al-Harbi (Mohammad Al-Harbi Museum, Al-Ula, Makkah), Saleh bin Abdul Lateef Al-Zafr (Saleh Al-Zafr Museum, Al-Ahsa), Saleh Mohammad Al-Amri (Al-Elyan Village Museum, Al-Nammas municipality), Khalid bin Mohammad Al-Jadai (Gala't Jadea Museum, Al-Rass municipality), Awada Mansi Al-Zahrani (Al-Kenani Heritage Museum, Tabuk), Saud bin Naif Al-Shamri (Al-Naifi Qusr Museum, Jiba municipality, Hail), Dr. Nawaf Zewaiban Al-Rashid (Nawaf Al-Rashid Museum, Al-Jouf), and Mansur bin Mohammad bin Mosbah (Mohammad bin Mosbah Museum, Buljersi municipality).