Rome: UNESCO and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) convened the closing conference of ‘Deep Surfaces. Architecture to Enhance the Visitor Experience of UNESCO Sites’ during the eighth edition of the RO.ME Museum Exhibition.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the event marked the culmination of a year-long collaboration that began with the exhibition’s launch at La Biennale di Venezia 2025. The ‘Deep Surfaces’ program explores how architecture and design can enhance visitor experiences and strengthen the relationship between people, heritage, and place.

Building on insights from more than 50 UNESCO sites worldwide, the Rome conference brought together leaders from museums, cultural institutions, and visitor centers to exchange best practices in sustainability, community engagement, and heritage interpretation.

As a key partner, RCU shared AlUla’s Living Museum approach, which connects culture, landscape, and community to shape authentic and sustainable visitor experiences. The interpretation framework for Hegra, developed jointly with UNESCO, was presented as a globally relevant case study demonstrating methods of communication and heritage interpretation at World Heritage sites.

The collaboration also reflects the growing cultural relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Italy, linking outcomes from Venice to Rome within a shared vision for design excellence and knowledge exchange. Through its ongoing partnership with UNESCO, RCU continues to advance the global dialogue on sustainable heritage, reinforcing AlUla’s position as a living laboratory for culture and design innovation in line with Saudi Vision 2030.