Developing Blockchain Framework and System to Preserve the Arabic and Islamic Culture and Heritage Ownership as a Digital Asset using Non-Fungible Tokens

Abstract

The Non-Fungible Token (NFT) market has witnessed rapid growth, significantly impacting various sectors, including the arts. NFTs, unique digital assets on public blockchains, have revolutionized how digital art is created, sold, and owned. This technology provides a secure method for verifying ownership and protecting art rights while enabling the generation of royalties. As a result, NFTs have introduced new dynamics into the traditional art market, highlighting their potential for broader applications such as cultural heritage preservation. Our paper proposes a blockchain-based conceptual framework to preserve Arabic and Islamic cultural heritage, initially focusing on the UAE and extending to the Middle East. We developed a prototype using Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) on the Bitcoin SV (BSV) blockchain to demonstrate the feasibility of this framework. This solution will securely store, preserve, and verify the ownership of valuable cultural assets as immutable digital records. Physical inheritance items, like family treasures and estates, can be digitized as NFTs and transferred via smart contracts without third-party involvement. Furthermore, these digital assets can be symbolically represented in the Metaverse, offering an immersive platform for showcasing and interacting with cultural heritage. Utilizing Blockchain, our innovative blockchain solution will enhance the authenticity of inherited assets and mitigate risks of trading fake or stolen items through the blockchain's immutable properties. The integrated system will include components for digitizing and preserving heritage assets such as NFTs and creating a marketplace for trading these original assets.