Makkah:With its deep historical roots and religious and civilizational significance, Makkah represents a living record of the region's transformations over successive decades. Audiovisual materials documenting life in the city, Hajj and Umrah journeys, and cultural landmarks constitute a national and human heritage.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, observed on October 27 each year, highlights the importance of sound recordings, films, moving images, and documentary materials as authentic sources of historical knowledge. This includes records of the development of the Grand Mosque, urban expansion, and social customs.
The occasion holds particular significance in Makkah due to the city's distinctive religious, historical, and social heritage. This heritage has been linked for centuries to the journeys of pilgrims from across the Islamic world, as well as the urban and social transformations the city has witnessed.
Photographs and documentaries featuring the Grand Mosque, the holy sites, and Hajj journeys are notable as visual records. They document the development of services provided to pilgrims, the stages of expansion and architectural growth, and changes in lifestyles in Makkah.
With the rapid advancement of digital preservation and electronic archiving technologies, there is greater emphasis on caring for old audiovisual materials through collection, classification, and cataloging. The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage underscores the importance of moving beyond simply preserving historical materials to managing, protecting, and making them accessible in a sustainable manner.
