Trans-Arabian Pipeline recognized as the first industrial heritage site in Saudi Arabia
The Heritage Commission has announced the first industrial heritage site in the Kingdom
The Trans-Arabian Pipeline (Tapline) has been registered on the National Industrial Heritage List, marking the first officially recognized industrial heritage site in the Kingdom. The National Industrial Heritage List is a project developed by the Heritage Commission, which plans to announce further sites across the Kingdom in the coming months.
“This announcement marks the first step on a journey of discovery as we move to officially recognize the Kingdom’s rich cultural treasures,” said Dr. Jasir Alherbish, CEO of the Heritage Commission. “Without the Tapline, the Kingdom would not be where it is today; it is only appropriate that we recognize this key industrial heritage site for its role in our national history.”
Construction of the Tapline began in 1948 on the orders of King Abdulaziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia, and today the remains of the pipeline serve as a reminder of the beginning of the Kingdom’s industrial revolution. The Tapline stretched 1,700km from the eastern coastal city of Dammam, connecting the Kingdom’s petroleum infrastructure to the region’s Mediterranean coast and was an integral part of the global trade of petroleum and the oil industry.
Saudi Arabia is home to many similar sites. The Heritage Commission plans to expand the National Industrial Heritage List to include a range of cultural landmarks that tell the story of the Kingdom’s industrial history and economic development.
In July 2019, the Ministry of Culture launched the Industrial Heritage Competition – the first of its kind – to highlight historical sites related to the Kingdom’s industrial heritage, ranging from mills, mines and excavation sites, to warehouses and power generation facilities.
