Saudi Arabia digitizes its documentary heritage to enrich public knowledge
Last month, Darah launched its strategic initiative, Darah Documents, as part of a broader development plan to enhance access to historical sources and improve the user experience for its research services.
Prince Faisal bin Salman, chairman of Darah's board of directors, endorsed efforts to expand access to the foundation's content and transform it into a comprehensive digital resource that supports researchers and reinforces the role of documents in shaping national identity, according to Darah CEO Turki Alshuwaier.
Alshuwaier told Arab News the Darah Documents initiative builds on the foundation's work to collect, classify, and make national documents accessible through innovative means.
'It also represents one of the main pillars of our new strategic plan,' he said, 'which focuses on maximizing knowledge impact by organizing initiatives to reinforce Darah's authority in historical preservation and broaden its reach.'
The initiative seeks to digitize and archive a curated selection of high-value historical documents, making them available through an advanced digital portal. (SUPPLIED)
He said that the initiative seeks to digitize and archive a curated selection of high-value historical documents, making them available through an advanced digital portal and the Beneficiary Services Center, to facilitate fast and efficient access for scholars and the general public.
Alshuwaier described Darah Documents as 'a qualitative leap in national archiving,' transferring records from traditional paper formats into organized digital content that supports the knowledge economy and strengthens the Kingdom's presence in digital history.
He explained that Darah applies a comprehensive system of scientific and technical procedures — including acquisition, verification, digitization, indexing, and access — using high-resolution scanners and international standards to ensure accuracy and fast retrieval.
According to Alshuwaier, the documentary content is preserved in secure digital and physical repositories in an intelligent institutional environment, enabling researchers to access reliable primary sources seamlessly and efficiently for their academic and knowledge-driven projects.
'The objectives of the initiative go beyond preservation and accessibility,' he added. 'It aims to transform the document into a living knowledge tool that enriches cultural and scientific output and applies across history, education, politics, society, and the arts — contributing to a national digital narrative for future generations.'
He also emphasized Darah's ambition to lead the national historical content landscape through initiatives that blend authenticity with innovation, turning documents into a dynamic platform that serves both knowledge and society.
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