21st Century Saudi Arabia: The Politics of Cultural Heritage Preservation

Saudi Arabia has witnessed significant changes since the rise of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in 2016: he introduced unprecedented economic, judicial, and social reforms that have significantly opened Saudi society. To further transform this conservative country’s global perception, particularly since the 2018 killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the government is heavily investing in tourism. Tourism still largely involves religious pilgrimages. However, a leisure tourism industry is being built from scratch that aims to attract 55 million international visitors annually. How will this ambitious plan be realized? To answer this question, we will discuss the different archaeological sites that have intrigued outsiders since antiquity, the controversial erasure of Mecca and Medina’s historical landscapes, and the goals of the Vision 2030 reform initiative. Spring 2023 tuition is $429.