King Abdulaziz University, represented by the Department of Geomatics at the
Faculty of Architecture and Planning, inaugurated the “Essence of the Past”
exhibition on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, under the patronage of Prof. Mohammed
Reda Kabli, Vice President for Educational Affairs.

The exhibition welcomed several school students from Jeddah Governorate, offering
them a chance to explore university student projects that reflect the architectural
identity of various Saudi regions and their diverse characteristics. Interactive displays
showcased regional architectural styles and illustrated how natural environments
shape built forms.

“Essence of the Past” aligns with the university’s commitment to supporting Saudi
Vision 2030, especially in the areas of sustainability, eco-tourism, and national
identity promotion. Involving school students in this initiative provides early exposure
to the disciplines of urbanism and geomatics, while raising awareness of Saudi
architectural heritage through a scientific and technological lens.

Dr. Rayan Sahahery, the event supervisor, stated that the exhibition aims to offer a
modern interpretation of traditional architecture through spatial analysis and digital
documentation tools. This effort contributes to improving the quality of future urban
projects and enriching cultural and tourism experiences across the Kingdom.

He added that the exhibition highlights the beauty of traditional Saudi architecture
and explores its environmental and cultural dimensions through the application of
geospatial information systems (GIS) and artificial intelligence.

The exhibition drew strong interest and interaction from students and visitors, who
praised the quality of the projects and the academic depth of the content,
reflecting the preparedness of Faculty of Architecture and Planning students to
contribute to the development of a sustainable built environment that honors the past
while embracing the future.