UNESCO / Kingdoms Institute: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – AlUla Fellowships Programme

About the Open Call

Within the framework of the strategic partnership between UNESCO and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), this program aims to protect, develop, and promote AlUla in UNESCO’s field of competence and contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UNESCO and RCU will jointly select and convene 10 fellows for a 24-month fellowship programme. The program enhances scientific knowledge on Heritage Research and Conservation and strengthens World Heritage management capacity, particularly in emergency preparedness and response. It offers opportunities to combine fieldwork in the AlUla region with on-the-job training in heritage-related programs within international organizations and national entities. The program includes three rotations: a 6-month fellowship in the Kingdoms Institute, Saudi Arabia (research profiles include Management of World Heritage Sites, Immovable Heritage Research, Immovable Heritage Conservation, Intangible Cultural Heritage, and Oases as Cultural Landscapes); a 12-month sponsored traineeship under the Culture Programme in a UNESCO duty station (e.g., Paris HQs, or Field Offices in Abuja, Almaty, Amman, Bangkok, Cairo, Harare, Kingston, Yaoundé); and a 6-month work-placement with a Partner National Commission for UNESCO or a designated culture or heritage entity.

What is Offered

Fellows will receive travel tickets (round-trip international tickets for each rotation and local travel), stipends to cover meals, accommodation, local transportation, and other living expenses in accordance with UN regulations, and medical insurance provided by the Royal Commission for AlUla for the entire 24-month duration across all three rotations.

Requirements

Applicants must hold the nationality of one of the invited Member States and Associate Members (see Annex I), be between 25 and 40 years old at the time of application, and possess a university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in culture, heritage management, architecture, urban planning/development, archaeology, conservation, museum management, cultural policies, anthropology, art history, arts management, creative industries, international relations, social and human sciences, or a related field. A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted. Excellent knowledge of English (oral and written) is essential, with knowledge of another UNESCO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) being preferable.

How to Apply

Applications, including a Curriculum Vitae (max 2 pages), certified photocopies of the highest diploma/degree, a completed Application Form (Annex 4), a motivation letter (1 page max), a completed Proposal Form (Annex 5, max 3 pages, PDF), a 2-minute self-introduction video in English (MP4, under 50 MB), and a copy of passport valid beyond 31 July 2026, must be submitted by email to alulafellowship@unesco.org no later than Midnight (Central European Time) by 22 September 2025. Documents in languages other than English must include a notarized English translation. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.