Photographing UNESCO’s “I Am a Rawi” project in AlUla was an inspiring and deeply rewarding experience. The project celebrates the Rawis—storytellers who serve as guardians of oral tradition and keepers of AlUla’s collective memory. Through their voices, gestures, and narratives, the Rawis embody the living heritage of the region, passing down stories that connect generations and cultures.

At the heart of the initiative lies the concept of the Live Museum, a model that transforms AlUla into an open-air cultural landscape where history, art, and community intertwine. Within this framework, the Qissa bi Qissa (“Story by Story”) program brings the Rawis’ storytelling to life, allowing visitors to experience AlUla’s heritage through personal encounters and shared narratives. Each story becomes a bridge between past and present, between local identity and global understanding.

The Rawis play a vital role in facilitating intercultural dialogue. Their storytelling invites visitors to engage with AlUla’s traditions not as distant observers but as participants in a living exchange. Through their words, visitors gain insight into the values, customs, and experiences that have shaped this ancient oasis, fostering empathy and mutual respect between cultures.

The “I Am a Rawi” project is a collaboration between UNESCO and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), reflecting a shared commitment to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage while promoting sustainable cultural tourism. Together, these institutions have created a platform that empowers local voices and ensures that AlUla’s stories continue to resonate on a global stage.

AlUla itself stands as a crossroads of cultures, a place where civilisations have met, traded, and exchanged ideas for millennia. Its landscapes, monuments, and communities embody a continuity of human creativity and resilience. The Rawis, as heritage interpreters, preserve this collective memory and foster connections across cultures, reminding all who visit that storytelling is one of humanity’s most powerful tools for understanding and unity.

Capturing the Rawis through photography was more than documenting a project—it was witnessing the living pulse of AlUla’s heritage. Each portrait, each moment of storytelling, reflected the profound beauty of cultural continuity and the universal language of stories that bind people together across time and place.

For anyone near Paris, my photography is featured in an outdoor exhibition bringing AlUla’s living heritage to UNESCO Headquarters from 15 June to 31 August 2026