Al-Ahsa enters UNESCO Creative Cities Network

JEDDAH: Al-Ahsa in the Eastern Province has become the first Gulf city to make it to UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network list.
It is now among 47 cities from 33 countries that are part of the network in seven creative fields — crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts and music.
Al-Ahsa is known for handicrafts such as palm production, wood industry, leather works, sewing and iron works.
Al-Ahsa Mayor Adel Al-Mulhim said that UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) aims to foster international cooperation with and between cities committed to investing in creativity as a driver for sustainable urban development.
He said that a specific UNESCO committee worked on nominating these cities to be included in the list, including cities that have natural or human-made features, such as crafts and buildings.
Al-Mulhim said that the selected cities get world recognition to ensure that they pass on their heritage to the coming generations, and all members enter into an agreement to protect and preserve sites.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network was launched in 2004 and comprise 116 member cities.