Saudi Students Join MBS Mosque Restoration Drive

In a remarkable step to preserve Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural legacy, 15 Saudi students have joined hands in restoring centuries-old mosques under the Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques. The initiative, carried out in partnership with the Heritage Commission and the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (Wrth), gives young Saudis a rare chance to learn and apply traditional building techniques on-site.

The students are part of a six-month field training program that focuses on authentic restoration practices, combining heritage craftsmanship with modern preservation standards. Working alongside expert Saudi engineers, they are learning skills that once shaped the Kingdom’s earliest architectural identity. Another batch of 15 students will soon join the program, which will continue through early 2026.

The training is split into two specialized tracks. The first teaches traditional mud-brick construction, where students gain hands-on experience at historic mosques being carefully rebuilt with original materials. The second focuses on Najdi-style wooden doors, training participants in age-old carpentry and carving methods that have adorned mosque entrances for generations.

The Mohammed bin Salman Project has already restored 30 historic mosques across 10 regions in its first phase and another 30 across 13 regions in the second. Each restoration blends authenticity with sustainability, ensuring that the mosques not only retain their original charm but are also ready to welcome worshippers for decades to come.

By reviving traditional designs, the project reinforces Saudi Arabia’s commitment to its Vision 2030 goals—celebrating the Kingdom’s cultural heritage while empowering its youth to carry forward the artistry and devotion that shaped its architectural past.

These young craftsmen are not just rebuilding mosques—they’re helping rebuild a living connection to Saudi Arabia’s spiritual and cultural identity.