Makkah: Memory of Place and People on World Day for Audiovisual Heritage

   Makkah, October 27, 2026, SPA -- With its deep historical roots and religious and civilizational significance, Makkah represents a living record of the region’s transformations over successive decades, as audiovisual materials documenting life in the city, Hajj and Umrah journeys, and cultural landmarks constitute a national and human heritage.
   The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, observed on October 27 each year, highlights the importance of sound recordings, films, moving images, and documentary materials as authentic sources of historical knowledge, including records of the development of the Grand Mosque, urban expansion, and social customs.
   The occasion holds particular significance in Makkah because of the city’s distinctive religious, historical and social heritage, which has been linked for centuries to the journeys of pilgrims from across the Islamic world, as well as the urban and social transformations the city has witnessed.
   Photographs and documentaries featuring the Grand Mosque, the holy sites, and Hajj journeys stand out as visual records of the development of services provided to pilgrims, the stages of expansion and architectural growth, and changes in lifestyles in Makkah.
   With the rapid advancement of digital preservation and electronic archiving technologies, greater importance is being placed on caring for old audiovisual materials through collection, classification, and cataloging.
   The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage underscores the importance of moving beyond simply preserving historical materials to managing, protecting, and making them accessible in a sustainable manner.
   -- SPA