Inscription of ‘Arabic Calligraphy’ on UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage

CAIRO – 15 December 2021: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in cooperation with 15 Arab countries and under the auspices of the ALECSO Organization, led the joint efforts to inscribe the "Arabic Calligraphy: Knowledge, Skills and Practices" on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The registration of Arabic calligraphy in the UNESCO list comes in line with the strategy of the Saudi Ministry of Culture to serve this art through many initiatives, including the "Year of Arabic Calligraphy" initiative, which presented continuous events and activities over the years 2020 and 2021, and witnessed great societal interaction. This strengthened the Saudi Kingdom's position as a global reference for Arabic calligraphy and its arts.

The inclusion of "Arabic calligraphy" in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, effectively contributes to the promotion of intangible cultural heritage, and in particular the arts of calligraphy in local communities.

It is the ninth element registered by the Saudi Kingdom on this list, after registering eight elements of the intangible cultural heritage. Arabic calligraphy is a symbol of Arab identity, and has contributed to the transmission of culture and religious texts throughout history.

Professional calligraphers practice Arabic calligraphy according to the knowledge, skills and rules acquired through apprenticeship. Artists and designers also use it in their artwork: paintings, sculptures, wall art, etc., besides its use by artisans to decorate various handicrafts.

The registration of Arabic calligraphy on the UNESCO list is part of the strategic directions of the Saudi Ministry of Culture, the Heritage Authority and the National Committee for Education, Culture and Science.