Smart Cities and Disaster Risk Management: A Closer Look at Protecting Heritage Sites Amid Climate Change

As part of Saudi Arabia’s celebration of the International Day for Monuments and Sites 2025, the Saudi National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Saudi ICOMOS) hosted a special discussion session titled:

“Smart Cities and Disaster Risk Management for Heritage Sites.”

The session was held in collaboration with the Saudi Society for Urban Sciences, the Museum of Islamic Arts (Dar Al Funoon Al Islamiyyah), and the Al-Midad Foundation for Art, Culture, and Heritage, at the Al-Safa Hall in Jeddah Park Center.

The gathering explored the increasing environmental challenges facing heritage preservation, including heavy rains, floods, strong winds, and the broader effects of climate change. Speakers focused on how heritage sites can be better managed using modern tools without losing their original character.

Experts at the session discussed the importance of using technologies like a