Avesta Group worked on behalf of the Heritage Commission to document maritime practices along both coasts of Saudi Arabia with the overarching goal of establishing standards to highlight and safeguard Saudi Arabia’s intangible maritime cultural heritage. Over the course of a year, we engaged with over a hundred sailors, builders, and custodians of maritime knowledge. Through extensive oral interviews and visual documentation, we captured the essence of their sea stories, fishing techniques, boat-building methods, and more. Avesta Group established an initial inventory for maritime heritage, identifying over 60 intangible cultural heritage practices – a groundbreaking achievement and the first of its kind in the country.
The project was structured through a phased methodology combining research, fieldwork, and final documentation, in alignment with UNESCO standards. Field investigations were conducted across multiple regions of Saudi Arabia, supported by interviews, focus groups, and stakeholder workshops, enabling a comprehensive understanding of both Red Sea and Arabian Gulf maritime traditions. The initiative also resulted in the development of key documentation tools, including bilingual inventory sheets, a photographic archive, and a database of over 200 specialists and practitioners.
Beyond documentation, the project identified critical challenges affecting coastal communities and proposed safeguarding measures, from supporting traditional crafts and practices to enhancing transmission, awareness, and sustainable cultural and tourism initiatives, laying the groundwork for a national framework for maritime heritage preservation.
