Reclaiming the Lost Cultural Identity via Heritagization : The Gulf States

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The emergence of oil discovery in the Gulf states since 1930s has led to rapid modernization, transforming once-historic districts into global commercial hubs. This transformation prompted significant construction and reconstruction of historic urban areas in capital cities, highlighting the profound impacts of swift modernization on cultural identity. In response to these changes, a process known as "Heritagization" has gained popularity in the Gulf states. This approach combines efforts for cultural enrichment with leisure activities while preserving the cultural identity. Although heritagization does bring economic and tourism benefits, concerns such as over commercialization, cultural commodification, and heritage degradation warrant critical consideration. This heritagization in the Gulf states often leads the urban regeneration projects to develop in such a manner that contradicts and challenges the previously existing cultural heritage and thus the continuity of the cultural identity is somehow marginalized and overshadowed.This research aims to investigate the emergence of heritagization as a transformative and innovative strategy in the Gulf region and its impact on the cultural identity of the historic districts. It also examines how the urban regeneration of these historic districts plays a central role in promoting this brand and shaping new cultural identities. This phenomenon of heritagization in the Gulf region will further be critically examined through the case study of Historic Al Diriyah in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The transformation of the historic site after its designation as a World Heritage Site represents a seamless fusion of tradition and modernity within the framework of a iv large-scale urban regeneration project. Beyond its function as a newly established cultural tourism destination, Al Diriyah serves as a cultural museum within a contemporary environment. However, this approach raises critical questions regarding the role of heritage, which may be reduced to mere visual aesthetics, thereby presenting a constructed cultural identity. It also raises concerns about commercializing and branding the heritage for tourism promotion showcasing the new historicized past. Keywords: Urban regeneration , Cultural Identity, Heritagization, Gulf states, Al Diriyah