Under the Patronage of the Custodian of the two Holly Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud the Kingdom hosts the first conference on Tourism and handicrafts in the Islamic countries from the 7th to the 14th of September 2006, this conference is organized by the Saudi Supreme Commission for Tourism (SCT) and The Organization of the Islamic Conference's Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) to be held in the King Abdul-Aziz Historical Center in Riyadh.

In this occasion HRH prince Naif bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud the Interior minister and the acting chairman of the SCT board of directors conveyed his gratitude to his majesty the King on his kind gesture in patronizing this conference, Prince Naif highlighted that the Royal gesture comes in his Majesty's efforts in continuously encouraging care for Islamic Culture and Heritage by supporting the industry in becoming a financial resource contributing to the upbringing of local communities in the Kingdom and the Islamic world in general, Prince Naif reiterated that the SCT is keen to develop handicrafts in the Kingdom for its role in economic and cultural development, and for its supposed contribution in enhancing job opportunities in the labor sector, as Prince Naif emphasized that the SCT in collaboration with other governmental bodies and the council of Saudi chambers of commerce has prepared a comprehensive strategy and action plan for the development of the handicrafts and traditional industries sector in the Kingdom that has been passed by the SCT board of directors and awaits it to be ratified by the government.