Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural and scientific legacy is set to transcend Earth’s boundaries, with elements of its ancient and modern heritage included in Sanctuary on the Moon, a historic time capsule project supported by NASA and UNESCO.

The initiative aims to safeguard humanity’s collective knowledge, art, and science by storing them on the moon — a symbolic act of unity and endurance that celebrates the achievements of civilization.

French engineer Benoit Faiveley, the visionary leading the project, is visiting Saudi Arabia to collaborate with prominent cultural and scientific institutions in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.

His mission: to select and curate the facets of Saudi heritage that best reflect the Kingdom’s timeless traditions and its remarkable transformation under Vision 2030.

“With the extraordinary cultural dynamism taking place under Saudi Vision 2030, now is the perfect time to collaborate with Saudi museums and art institutions,” said Faiveley. “Saudi Arabia’s voice will represent not only its people but also the broader Arab civilization — past, present, and future.”

The Sanctuary on the Moon project brings together a distinguished team of international experts, including astrophysicists, paleontologists, historians, engineers, and artists.

Their shared goal is to design and deliver a “cosmic message” — a permanent record of human civilization preserved beyond the reach of time.

The time capsule will consist of 24 sapphire discs engraved with images, data, and diagrams that encapsulate humanity’s scientific and cultural achievements. From art and music to mathematics and literature, each disc will tell part of humanity’s story.

Among them, Saudi Arabia’s contribution will shine as the cultural beacon of the Arab world, symbolizing a bridge between ancient wisdom and futuristic innovation.

Saudi heritage sites such as the rock art of Hima, the ancient city of Diriyah, and the AlUla archaeological wonders are among those being considered for inclusion.

These landmarks, along with Saudi Arabia’s growing number of UNESCO World Heritage sites — now numbering eight — reflect the Kingdom’s deep historical roots and commitment to preservation.

Faiveley described the lunar archive as “a cosmic hello to our descendants, or perhaps to other intelligent life forms.” The time capsule’s design ensures longevity, with sapphire chosen for its durability and resistance to cosmic radiation.

Each disc will store vast amounts of information in image and data form, ensuring that even millennia from now, future generations — or perhaps future civilizations — can uncover humanity’s story.

Scheduled to travel aboard NASA’s CT-4 mission, the time capsule will land on the moon’s southern polar region — an area seen as ideal for future inhabited lunar bases. This region, rich in scientific potential and water-ice reserves, symbolizes hope for humanity’s next frontier of exploration.

By incorporating Saudi culture into the lunar archive, the Sanctuary project acknowledges the Kingdom’s vital role in shaping global civilization and innovation.

It also highlights Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transformation under Vision 2030 — a national plan that balances progress with preservation, tradition with technology, and heritage with innovation.

“The initiative ensures that Saudi Arabia’s cultural legacy — from its prehistoric art to its modern vision — will remain accessible for millennia,” the project’s statement noted. “It’s not just a record of human knowledge; it’s a celebration of diversity, creativity, and shared destiny.”

For Saudi Arabia, this participation marks another milestone in its journey toward global cultural leadership. From hosting world-class museums and restoring historic sites to empowering its creative industries, the Kingdom continues to position itself as a hub of heritage, innovation, and inspiration.

As humanity looks beyond Earth, Saudi Arabia’s inclusion in the Sanctuary on the Moon ensures that when the story of humankind is told among the stars, the Kingdom’s voice — echoing its ancient past and visionary future — will forever resonate across time and space.

Al-Mraeed, a former senior officer, positions the Saudi state not merely as a political construct but as a project of resilience, forged in the crucible of battles, strategic calculations, and a unifying national identity. He asserts that security and stability were never incidental by-products but deliberate pillars of state-building, enabling the Saudi state to survive internal divisions, deter external threats, and withstand the turbulence of a volatile region.

The book traces the geopolitical conditions that preceded the birth of the First Saudi State, then unfolds an analytical journey through the three historic phases of Saudi nationhood. Each stage, Al-Mraeed argues, embodies a different facet of Saudi resilience and vision—beginning with the establishment of unity, followed by a period of endurance, and culminating in unification and modernization.

Three Phases of Statehood

The First Saudi State (1727–1818) is depicted as a pioneering moment when unity and security were anchored in the fabric of national identity. This foundation gave birth to a political order that could withstand both tribal fragmentation and external opposition.

The Second Saudi State (1824–1891), marked by turbulence and conflict, is characterized in the book as an era of endurance. Despite rifts within and relentless challenges from beyond, the state persevered—demonstrating the tenacity that would later define Saudi resilience.

The Third Saudi State, inaugurated in 1902 with the recapture of Riyadh, is described as the unification era that continues into the present day. Al-Mraeed dedicates an entire chapter to this decisive operation, describing it as a lightning maneuver that reset the trajectory of Saudi history. This phase, he argues, was not only about consolidating territorial control but also about building a modern kingdom rooted in pride, stability, and prosperity under visionary leadership.

Al-Mraeed enriches his account by spotlighting lesser-known aspects of Saudi military heritage. He highlights the contribution of women, citing figures such as Ghaliya Al-Buqmiya, who played critical roles in defense and strategy. He also examines the centrality of horses and camels in traditional warfare, while noting the morale-boosting power of poetry and military displays in shaping Saudi spirit across generations.

A Legacy of Strategy and Resilience

The volume is distinguished by its extensive use of maps, archival records, and rare photographs, making it both an academic resource and a historical narrative. It draws deliberate comparisons between Saudi strategic thought and global military doctrines, underscoring the Kingdom’s philosophy of crisis management and deterrence. Al-Mraeed condenses this approach in a succinct maxim: “Readiness for war creates peace.”

Beyond recounting conflicts, the book dissects the political decisions, security strategies, and tactical innovations that laid the foundation of the Saudi state. In doing so, it moves beyond the conventional telling of wars to reveal how crises were consistently transformed into opportunities for unity and renewal.

Published to coincide with the Kingdom’s 95th National Day, Epics of the Saudi State seeks to remind readers that Saudi Arabia’s endurance was never guaranteed but earned through determination, leadership, and the collective will of its people.

The five chapters of the book—covering the foundation, endurance, ascent, unification, and stability—recount how a unity project grew into a national identity that transcended tribalism and sectarianism, offering instead a model of cohesion and sustainable statehood.

By situating the Saudi story within its broader historical arc, Al-Mraeed emphasizes the interconnectedness of past, present, and future. The Saudi people’s will, determination, and loyalty, he suggests, are not only the legacy of their forefathers but also the enduring keys to maintaining one of the most stable nations in the region.