JEDDAH: Ali Bey Al-Abbasi was not the first European enamored with the Arab Peninsula and the mysteries of Makkah. Nor was he the first Westerner to visit the city — but he was an unusually resourceful man, with wealth of unknown origin and a great thirst for discovery, who provided Westerners with the first comprehensive account of the city.
He was born Domingo Francisco Jorge Badía y Leblich in Barcelona in 1767. After receiving a liberal education, he focused on astronomy, medicine and mineral science. He also developed an interest in learning Arabic.
“Al-Abbasi was an agent of the king of Spain or of Napoleon,” says August Raleigh, author of the book “Makkah in the Eyes of a Christian Pilgrim.”
In 1801, Al-Abbasi set off for Paris and London, returning to Spain two years later wearing Islamic clothing. Later, he formed a close friendship with the sultan of Morocco who, with growing affection, advised the Spaniard to find a wife, to which Al-Abbasi replied that he had made a pledge not to marry before visiting Makkah. The sultan tried to discourage Al-Abbasi from making the trip but when he could not, and saw the determination of his friend, he presented him with a beautiful, extravagant tent as a gift.
On the third day of Shawwal, 1806, Al-Abbasi joined a convoy heading to Makkah, taking with him 14 camels and two horses. He boarded a ship from Suez but fate, and the weather, were not on his side. The vessel floundered and sank, forcing Al-Abbasi and his men to flee in a lifeboat and row for hours before reaching the safety of a Red Sea island. From there, they were rescued and taken to Jeddah.
On the 12th day of Dul Qaada, Al-Abbasi had to be carried on a stretcher because he had a fever that weakened him and damaged his bones. The next day he and his companions wore Ihram garments and walked along winding roads until they reached Makkah.
Al-Abbasi entered the city and when he reached the courtyard of the mosque, a guide gestured for him to stop. He pointed to the Kaaba and said: “Look. Look at the house of God.”
The Spaniard was deeply affected by the reverence of his experience. He wrote: “The house of God is covered with a black robe from above to be draped, surrounded by a ring of lamps, the unaccustomed hour and the stillness of the night; and our guide, who was speaking before us as if he were inspired, all these images formed an amazing image that will not be erased from my memory.” 
He remained in the city, living among noblemen and aristocrats. The governor of Makkah even asked him to help clean the Kaaba. Describing one of the many incredible sights that he witnessed, during a year when the number of pilgrims was 83,000, Al-Abbasi wrote: “Only in Arafat can one get an idea of the majestic scene of pilgrimage. There are countless people from all nations and colors from every corner of the world. Despite the thousands of countless dangers and obstacles that they had to overcome, all of them worship one God. Everyone counts themselves as members of one family. There is no intermediary between man and his Lord; everyone is equal before their creator.”
Al-Abbasi, who later wrote of his experiences, was the first European to present to the world a detailed account of Makkah, unlike the fragmented notes of earlier travelers such as Ludovico di Varthema and Joseph Bates. He went so far as to include a precise location, determined through astronomical observation, and recreated a map of the Grand Mosque.
Al-Abbasi continued to travel, visiting many countries before he died of dysentery in 1818, in Aleppo, Syria. He was buried in Balqa, near Amman, the capital of Jordan.
Enigmatic traveler who revealed full majesty of Makkah to the world
Enigmatic traveler who revealed full majesty of Makkah to the world
- The next day he and his companions wore Ihram garments and walked along winding roads until they reached Makkah
- The vessel floundered and sank, forcing Al-Abbasi and his men to flee in a lifeboat and row for hours before reaching the safety of a Red Sea island
‘At the Edge’: Art Week Riyadh signals bold new chapter in Saudi cultural renaissance, say organizers
- Event organized by Visual Arts Commission and hosted at JAX District from April 6 to 13
RIYADH: Art Week Riyadh is making waves in the Saudi capital this week, with curators and creatives hailing the event as a pivotal moment in the Kingdom’s fast-evolving cultural landscape, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Organized by the Visual Arts Commission and hosted at the JAX District from April 6 to 13, the event is bringing together local and international artists, curators, and institutions in a celebration of contemporary creativity and cross-cultural dialogue.
The initiative reflects the growing momentum of Saudi Arabia’s cultural transformation, part of the broader Vision 2030 reform agenda that is reshaping the Kingdom’s social and artistic fabric, according to organizers.
Vittoria Matarrese, Director and Art Curator of Art Week Riyadh, described the event as a significant turning point.
“We chose the title ‘At the Edge’ because it reflects the nature of the phase Riyadh is undergoing,” Matarrese said. “It is a city positioned between the desert and urbanization, between heritage and renewal. This balance is evident in the diversity of participation and the dialogues presented by the exhibition.”
She added that Riyadh is increasingly defining itself as a space where modernity and tradition intersect, enabling a unique creative evolution.
Shumon Basar, curator of the Public Cultural Program at Art Week Riyadh, underscored the importance of the conversations taking place as part of the programme, titled “How to Create an Art World: Lessons in Value.”
He explained: “Our goal is not only to share experiences, but also to raise essential questions about the types of value that art creates in the contemporary world—whether economic, symbolic, or social—and how art can serve as a tool to understand cultural transformations, rather than merely reflect them.”
Art Week Riyadh serves as a key cultural platform that embraces diversity and encourages artistic experimentation, offering a space for critical reflection on the evolving role of art in society, SPA added.
A look at NEOM’s prehistoric masterpieces etched in stone
- Open-air museum of ancient artworks is key to decoding past civilizations
- Drawings reveal how human beings interacted with now-extinct animals in the area
MAKKAH: In the heart of NEOM’s Hisma Desert, where sandstone mountains and plateaus rise from the arid landscape, is an extraordinary collection of ancient rock art and archaeological inscriptions. These priceless treasures illuminate the cultural and economic vitality of long-lost civilizations.
Once a vital corridor for caravans travelling the ancient trade routes of the Arabian Peninsula, this region preserves an invaluable legacy etched into its geological formations.
Abdulelah Al-Fares, a photographer and expert in ancient artifacts and a member of the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society, told Arab News that the rock art is in the mountains and plateaus in NEOM, part of a mountain range in the northwestern part of Tabuk.
Hisma Desert is bordered by the Sharah Mountains to the north, by Wadi Araba to the northwest, by the Hijaz Mountains to the west, and by Harrat Al-Raha to the south.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Studying rock art in the region matters deeply because it reveals economic and cultural changes that shaped the northern Arabian Peninsula.
• The drawings show how people interacted with now-extinct animals in the area, as well as with livestock and camels.
• Among the standout examples are life-sized camels crafted with remarkable precision and aesthetic detail.
“The plateaus, part of the Hisma Desert and its geological formations, represent an open-air museum of nature, ancient rock art, and diverse historical inscriptions,” he said.
The rock drawings feature engravings of human figures, animals and various scattered scenes throughout the site.
The engravings on the plateau’s facades depict scenes of animals, including wild animals such as camels, cattle, ibexes, ostriches and wolves, as well as other predatory animals, and depictions of hunting scenes and human combat.
These drawings are notable for their precision and have remarkably withstood the elements for thousands of years.
Abdulelah Al-Fares, Saudi Heritage Preservation Society member
“These drawings are notable for their precision and have remarkably withstood the elements for thousands of years,” he said. “Most of the themes and scenes in some of the rock drawings in the region are repeated and depict, to some extent, the world of wild animals and the interactions of humans through hunting and warfare.
“The mountains embody a civilizational and cultural legacy through their distinctive rock drawings featuring human and animal forms,” Al-Fares said.
He also highlighted the value of exploring NEOM’s ancient rock art. These carvings — depicting animals, hunting scenes and human figures — are a bridge between our modern lives and the world of humans thousands of years ago. They are a source of cultural and historical knowledge.
The artworks also illuminate the journey of human civilization, revealing its cultural and social evolution in the region.
Scattered throughout the area, a wide array of rock art sites show a vast and dense collection of drawings and archaeological inscriptions from different eras etched on mountain surfaces.
Al-Fares pointed out their diversity, noting the varied artistic styles, forms, and themes that distinguish each piece.
Among the standout examples are life-sized camels crafted with remarkable precision and aesthetic detail. The careful attention to detail is thought to underscore the camel’s role as an essential sources of food and transport in ancient times.
Another façade shows a herd of cows, all facing forward, their large crescent-shaped horns curving at the tips. Encircling this herd, human figures of varying sizes are skilfully carved.
These ancient artworks are pictorial panels of human history, activity, environmental adaptation, and cultural development during ancient times. Their value shines brighter given the scarcity of insights into prehistoric life.
Studying rock art in the region matters deeply because it reveals economic and cultural changes that shaped the northern Arabian Peninsula.
The drawings show how people interacted with now-extinct animals in the area, as well as with livestock and camels.
Many carvings portray human beings astride animals, including a warrior wielding a spear and sword, rendered with finesse and skill.
Scattered throughout the region, some drawings hint at the presence of different ethnic groups that lived in the area. The provide clues to migratiosn and trace the routes of trade caravans that used these locations as settlement points.
Riyadh forum to discuss future of project management
- The event will offer a platform for exchanging strategies to improve project outcomes by enhancing skills, streamlining operations, and using modern technology
RIYADH: Riyadh will host the fourth Global Project Management Forum from May 17 to 19, focusing on advancing project management and promoting innovation and sustainability.
Held under the theme “Next-Gen Project Management: The Power of People, Processes, and Technology,” the forum will bring together professionals from more than 100 countries to explore the future of project management and share new methodologies.
The event will offer a platform for exchanging strategies to improve project outcomes by enhancing skills, streamlining operations, and using modern technology, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The forum’s chairman, Badr Burshaid, said the goal is to provide practical solutions to challenges while encouraging collaboration across people, processes, and technology.
The event will include sessions and workshops on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, sustainability, global value chains, and leadership development, along with an exhibition and book signings.
The Saudi volunteer team that carries out emergency rescues in the Northern region
- Turaif Falcons Search and Rescue Association rescues stranded motorists, finds missing people and assists in medical emergencies
- Group recently helped evacuate severely overweight man suffering medical emergency in apartment
MAKKAH: A volunteer search and rescue team recently helped to evacuate a severely overweight man suffering a medical emergency in an apartment in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region.
The man, weighing around 200 kilograms, was suffering from shortness of breath and low oxygen levels.
Due to the narrow staircase in the building — around a meter wide — the specialized team had to be brought in to evacuate the patient on a stretcher.
The team worked with the Saudi Red Crescent to safely transport him to a nearby hospital where he was placed on a respirator.
It was one example of a diverse range of rescue missions that the Turaif Falcons Search and Rescue Association regularly carry out.
Their work includes rescuing people from floods, assisting motorists stuck in the sand and locating people who have gone missing in the desert.
Operating under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, they thrive in a spirited volunteer environment, committing their time, skills, and energy to community service while promoting a culture of volunteerism.
In an interview with Arab News, Mohammed Bashit Al-Ruwaili, head of public relations and media, and the official spokesperson for the association, said that the team is made up of over 150 dedicated volunteers, who play essential roles in multiple areas — most notably in supporting official agencies during search and rescue operations and contributing to life-saving efforts.
He emphasized that the team operates within a well-structured institutional framework, working in direct coordination with relevant security authorities to assist in the execution of rescue missions.
Al-Ruwaili noted that the team plays a vital role in raising community awareness through training programs that teach members of the public about wilderness safety.
It also offers support via interactive community service initiatives led by experienced and skilled members.
The team is equipped with a comprehensive system that includes vehicles fitted with communication and alert devices, and personnel trained in first aid and search operations under challenging conditions.
He pointed out that the Falcons face major challenges from harsh weather conditions, including sandstorms and extreme heat, which can hinder rescue efforts, and emphasized the continuous need to strengthen and capabilities by providing volunteers with more advanced equipment.
Al-Ruwaili also underscored the importance of unified efforts between official agencies and volunteer teams to ensure rapid and effective emergency response.
The team is committed, he said, to expanding its efforts by attracting new volunteers and forging strategic partnerships with relevant authorities.
Al-Ruwaili stressed the importance of cooperating with authorities and promptly reporting any emergencies.
He reaffirmed the Turaif Falcons’ commitment to remaining on the front lines, always prepared to respond, save lives, and serve the community.
Saudi ambassador meets Maldivian minister
- Khaleel conveyed the government’s appreciation to the Saudi ambassador for his contributions to strengthening the brotherly relations between the Maldives and Saudi Arabia
MALE: Saudi Ambassador of Maldives Matrek Al-Dosari met with the Abdulla Khaleel, Maldivian minister of foreign affairs, in Male on Sunday.
During the meeting, Khaleel conveyed the government’s appreciation to the Saudi ambassador for his contributions to strengthening the brotherly relations between the Maldives and the Kingdom, according to an official statement from the Foreign Ministry.
Al-Dosari expressed his gratitude to the government and people of the Maldives for the warm hospitality and friendship extended to him during his tenure.
He reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to further strengthening the close and brotherly ties between the two countries.
