Kuala Lumpur Hosts Saudi Seminar on Islamic Scripts and Rock Inscriptions

A cultural seminar on Islamic scripts and rock inscriptions was held with the participation of specialists in Islamic history, heritage, and archaeology, as part of the cultural program through which the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission is leading Saudi Arabia's participation as guest of honor at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2026.

 The seminar addressed the origins of Arabic script and the development of early Arabic writings in the Kingdom as among the oldest civilizational records documenting cultural and religious transformations in the Arabian Peninsula, alongside the characteristics and artistic aesthetics of Arabic calligraphy.

 It highlighted that Islamic rock inscriptions serve as historical evidence of ancient community life, revealing details about trade routes, Hajj routes, and caravan routes, and traced the evolution of letterforms and recording styles across Islamic eras.

 The seminar noted that the Kingdom is rich in archaeological sites associated with Islamic inscriptions, several of which are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and that modern technologies, including digital photography, 3D scanning, and artificial intelligence, are now contributing to their documentation and preservation.

 The seminar also featured documented images of Islamic inscriptions and writings from several Saudi archaeological sites.