The AlUla World Archaeology Summit and Symposium (AWAS) is a global platform for leaders from academia, government, non-government organisations, industry and youth to engage in foster an environment of cross-disciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange and create an inclusive a diverse, inclusive and enriching dialogue that furthers our understanding of human history and culture. It was established by the Royal Commission for AlUla in 2023 and distinct from other global archaeology conferences, AWAS focuses on interdisciplinarity to include areas as diverse as anthropology, media, education, policy, government and more. The vision is to facilitate dialogue on archaeology and cultural heritage issues that is both academic and more accessible to a wider audience, and to provide a global platform for the latest work and thinking. AWAS alternates each year between a Summit and a more academically focused Symposium. These two facets are complementary, like an aerial survey one year and site excavation the next.