Hundreds of experts, students and enthusiasts gathered at the first AlUla World Archaeological Summit in Saudi Arabia this week.
The event is a global platform for promoting archaeology and cultural heritage to wider audiences, organisers Royal Commission For AlUla (RCU) said.
Philip Jones, chief tourism officer at RCU, told The National the idea of the summit came from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman himself.
“It comes from recognition that archaeology is I think misunderstood and underappreciated sort of globally," he said.
"And because we are sitting on such an amazing collection of archaeological sites in AlUla, I think he felt like this was an opportunity for us to sort of be the epicenter of archaeology from a technology perspective, from an academic perspective, from a youth perspective.”
About 95 per cent of AlUla's archaeological treasures have not been uncovered yet, he added.
“From that perspective, we want to sort of become known as the entity or the organisation that hosts a thought leadership conference like the AlUla World Archaeology Summit, model after Davos, model after FII [Future Investment Initiative]," said Mr Jones
"So that, on an annual basis, we will continue to sort of showcase archaeology as a profession, as a guide to the future, looking at the past, and as a place where you know you can converge thought leadership around this very important topic.
AlUla is home to Hegra, the ancient city that was declared Saudi Arabia’s first Unesco World Heritage Site in 2008.
With more than 200,000 years of human and natural history, the region hosted one of the oldest civilisations in the world and was once a thriving trade route.
The AlUla World Archaeological Summit will be held annually, the RCU told The National.
This year, 327 delegates from 39 countries attended the inaugural summit between September 14 and 15, and participants got a chance to meet experts from around the world.
They held discussions on the future of archeology, climate change, sustainability, youth participation and digital aspects of the new age of archeology.
Prof Abdullah Masry, a Saudi anthropologist and archeologist, told The National, that the gathering of experts at such a grand scale, is a boost for the kingdom's archaeology and tourism sector, "which is developing very fast."
"I started my archaeological mission around 50 years ago when we had six missions from Chicago, Paris and others, in total. Today we have 30-40 missions and joint expeditions across Saudi Arabia," he said.
"I realised after attending the summit that this is entirely a new window for Saudi archeology. What's going on in Saudi Arabia is vastly different than what was perceived in the past."
Rebecca said the themes this summit were identity, ruinscapes, resilience and accessibility.
'Dream come true'
International archeologists at the summit told The National they were “blown away” by the sites in AlUla and the youths participating at the summit.
Prof Bettany Hughes, a British historian and author, told The National she was pleasantly surprised by the amount of women in the workforce and will be back soon to start working on a project in AlUla.
“We have had amazing conversations with people from all across the world. It’s been extremely intense and productive," she said.
“It’s my first time in AlUla and it’s archaeology is extraordinary and the heritage is incredible – with the connected roadways and context all around is fantastic,” she told The National.
Academics discussed early settlement and migration patterns, as law and policy makers shared the importance of planning and maintenance to avoid environmental disasters.
“It’s a dream come true to work here,” said Guillaume Charloux, co-director of the Khaybar Longue Duree Archaeological Project, during a panel discussion.
He is studying the region around AlUla, including Khaybar, where thousands of structures, between 4,000-7,000 years old were found. Khaybar was an important centre developed around a remarkable system of irrigation and ancient dams.
A lot more to discover
RCU is sponsoring one of the world’s largest archaeological research programmes.
There are currently 12 excavations and research projects underway in AlUla and Khaybar, ranging from ancient inscriptions in 10 different languages to the study of agricultural practices.
About 200 archaeologists and specialists will be involved in the upcoming dig season.
More than 300 inscriptions at Jabal Ikmah have been documented so far and 110 well-preserved monumental tombs have been found at Hegra.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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