DUBAI: Well before the first visitors arrive at Hegra each morning, Saudi heritage ranger Fatimah Al-Balawi has already walked the site, making sure the Kingdom\u2019s first UNESCO World Heritage Site is ready to receive visitors from across the globe.<\/p>\n
Al-Balawi joined the Royal Commission for AlUla in 2023 and is one of a team of rangers safeguarding AlUla\u2019s cultural landmarks, from the rock-cut tombs of Hegra to the ancient settlement of Dadan and the open-air inscriptions of Jabal Ikmah. Her role is a mix of protection and hospitality. \u201cProtecting the site and welcoming visitors are not separate tasks,\u201d Al-Balawi tells Arab News. \u201cThey are both essential parts of delivering the full AlUla experience from beginning to end.\u201d<\/p>\n Her mornings begin early. \u201cWe make sure the site is fully prepared at least 30 minutes before each tour begins,\u201d she says, checking that everything is in place \u201cto provide visitors with the highest standards of quality and comfort from the moment they arrive.\u201d<\/p>\n Much of her day is spent balancing two responsibilities at once. She works alongside a rawi \u2014 a traditional storyteller who narrates each site\u2019s history \u2014 while she keeps the tour moving in a way that protects the archaeology. \u201cEvery stage of the tour is carefully coordinated,\u201d she says. Each team member \u2014 \u201cfrom the rawi to the ranger\u201d \u2014 has a clear role.<\/p>\n On patrol among the tombs, she watches for anything that could mar the site.<\/p>\n \u201cWe make sure no one damages or interferes with the tombs, such as by carving or marking the surfaces,\u201d she says. Rangers also monitor natural erosion and other physical changes across the site, reporting anything of concern to the relevant teams so they can respond quickly. Beyond that, an important part of the job is \u201craising awareness among visitors about the significance of AlUla\u2019s heritage and why protecting these extraordinary sites is a shared responsibility.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are often curious about the stories behind the sites \u2014 who lived here, what the inscriptions mean and how these places have survived for so long,\u201d she continues. \u201cThere is a real sense of discovery, especially when they realize just how much history is preserved in AlUla.\u201d What she most wants them to take away is that the sites are \u201cpart of a living heritage that we all have a responsibility to protect.\u201d<\/p>\n Al-Balawi was born and raised in AlUla, and her connection to the land runs deep.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is part of who I am, which makes protecting its heritage and sharing it with others all the more meaningful,\u201d she says. Even after full days on site, she finds herself drawn back to Jabal Ikmah, home to thousands of ancient inscriptions, carvings and rock art. \u201cI never tire of standing in front of the inscriptions and writings carved into the mountains, or of seeing the stories they have preserved over time,\u201d she says. \u201cThe level of detail is extraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n Al-Balawi says she was drawn to the job through \u201ca passion for protecting our history and cultural heritage, and the pride that comes with representing Saudi Arabia to visitors from different cultures.\u201d She adds that she hopes to \u201cencourage women in Saudi Arabia and around the world to take pride in their heritage and play an active role in protecting and preserving it.\u201d<\/p>\n Off the clock, the ranger keeps things simple. \u201cInteracting with visitors is something that genuinely makes me happy, so, mentally, I usually end the day on a positive note,\u201d she says. \u201cThe work can be demanding, so I make sure to rest and get enough sleep. I also enjoy spending quality time with my family and unwinding with a good film.\u201d<\/p>\n For Al-Balawi, being a ranger is a calling, more than a job. \u201cIt is a national responsibility and a source of pride in our identity and history,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Al-Balawi](\"https:\/\/assets.maestronewsroom.com\/media\/30f6532d-717b-4366-9158-9c455299fcd9\/1790840159982-2b4c14f66990b2f0.jpg\")