HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman, the SCTA Secretary General, announced that Al-Hijr site (Mada'in Saleh) was approved to be registered in the World Heritage List, which includes more than 851 cultural and natural sites. The site was approved during the meeting of UNESCO world heritage committee in its 32 round which is being organized in Quebec city, Canada. For this occasion, the SCTA Secretary General expressed his thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince for their constant support to the efforts aiming at the preservation of our national heritage.

Also, the SCTA Secretary General expressed his gratitude for issuing the royal decree on 19/7/1427H to register three Saudi sites in the World Heritage List such as Al-Hijr site, which was registered for the first time in the List HRH Prince Sultan confirmed that this great event represents an international recognition of the big historical value of this world archeological site. HRH pointed out that this resolution is important in highlighting the KSA's historical prestige and civilization inheritance. HRH stated that this resolution plays a role in the site preservation, development, and investment since the KSA presented in the nomination file an integrated plan to administer, protect, and qualify the site.

HRH Prince Sultan added "it is the time now for the world to see our historical inheritance and knows our country's civilization and historical potentials". HRH clarified that the SCTA will nominate the other two sites to be included in the World Heritage List after meeting the UNESCO's requirements and technical standards It is worth mentioning that the SCTA organized Al-Hijr (Mada'in Saleh) Exhibition at the UNESCO location under the sponsorship of the SCTA Secretary General and His Excellency the UNESCO general manager in Paris during 21/8-2/9/1428H (1-14/9/2007) within the framework of registering Mada'in Saleh site in the World Heritage List.