JEDDAH: Al-Qatt Al-Asiri was on Wednesday added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Al-Qatt Al-Asiri is an art form deeply rooted within the identity of the southern region in the Kingdom, and practiced exclusively by women. It can be seen decorating the interior walls of guest rooms in Asiri homes.
Women draw geometric shapes and tribal symbols and paint them in vibrant colors to make their guests feel welcome. During the creative process, female relatives design masterpieces on the walls, bringing about a sense of solidarity between them.
The Saudi Heritage Preservation Society (SHPS), along with the Kingdom’s permanent UNESCO delegation, were participating in the 12th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage on Jeju Island, South Korea, when the news broke.
“We filed Al-Qatt with UNESCO back in 2016 and we continued to strive to provide further information regarding its intricacies until it was inscribed during today’s session,” Rihaf Qasas, SHPS project manager, told Arab News.
“I wouldn’t describe it as a struggle; we just had to collect enough data and fill in the gaps, and we did it.
“This is so important because it keeps this traditional art that’s existed for ages from being buried. It ensures this culture is documented for generations to come, and it acquaints the world with the magnitude of the Kingdom’s heritage,” Qasas added.
On their future endeavors with UNESCO, Qasas said the SHPS could only register one file every two years. The Janadriyah festival will be registered next year, and the Kiswat Al-Ka’aba (the Holy Mosque’s cloth) in 2020.
The most distinguished practitioner of Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, Fatima Abou Gahas, dedicated her life to sustaining and teaching the art until her death in 2010.
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qatt Al-Asiri added to the UNESCO list
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qatt Al-Asiri added to the UNESCO list
Saudi Arabia’s royal reserve wins top award at Abu Dhabi international exhibition
RIYADH: The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority has won a top award at the 21st Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition.
The authority’s pavilion won the Best Display Platform Award in the Environmental and Cultural Heritage Conservation category on Sunday, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
During the exhibition, the authority highlighted how the northeastern reserve in Saudi Arabia promotes sustainable hunting, and has various eco-friendly camps and lodges.
The pavilion attracted thousands of visitors from across the world, who were able to get more information on tourism options including the “Darb Zubaydah Winter Festival,” and luxury Al-Hasak caravans.
The pavilion also showcased leading heritage landmarks including the King Abdulaziz Palace in Lina, Lina Heritage Market, Al-Ashar Pool, and Umm Al-Asafir Waterfall.
There was also a section where visitors could use augmented reality spectacles to view the reserve’s night sky.
The Abu Dhabi exhibition, which ended on Sunday, recorded more than 250,000 visitors from 70 countries.
There were 1,742 brands showcased, in addition to live shows, workshops and education sessions.
13 Ethiopians arrested for suspected illegal entry, drug smuggling in southern Saudi borders
- Drug haul includes 917kg of qat, 39.5kg of hashish
- 2 Yemenis, Saudi citizen arrested for peddling drugs
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s southern border forces have arrested 13 Ethiopians for suspected illegal entry and attempting to smuggle 917 kg of qat and other narcotic substances into the country, the Saudi Press Agency said in a series of reports on Sunday.
Two Yemenis and a Saudi Arabia citizen were arrested in separate operations for peddling drugs, the SPA reported.
Seven of the Ethiopian suspects were arrested by the Border Guard in Al-Ardah, Jazan, while allegedly trying to enter the Kingdom with 320 kg of qat, the SPA said in one of eight reports.
Another report said Border Guard land patrols in Al-Dayer, Jazan, arrested four Ethiopians for suspected illegal entry and possession of 39.5 kg of hashish and 19,960 tablets of amphetamine.
In Fifa, Jazan, security patrols arrested two Ethiopians for suspected illegal entry and possession of 59,998 tablets of illegal drugs.
Border Guard patrols reportedly seized, in separate operations, 432 kg of qat in Al-Raboah, Asir; 165 kg of qat in Al-Dayer, Jazan; and an undetermined amount of qat in Al-Farsha, Asir.
In Asir, security patrols of the General Directorate of Mujahideen arrested a Saudi Arabia citizen for the suspected peddling of hashish and methamphetamine, the SPA reported.
And in Jeddah, officers of the directorate arrested two Yemeni nationals for the suspected peddling of hashish and amphetamine.
The government has called on the public to report drug smuggling or selling by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 999 in other parts of the Kingdom.
Reports to the General Directorate of Narcotics Control can be submitted by using the number 995 or email [email protected].
Saudi leaders congratulate Algerian president on re-election
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a cable of congratulations to Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Sunday on his re-election, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The King and Crown Prince wished the Algerian people further progress and prosperity.
Tebboune won a second term as president with almost 95 percent of the vote, the country’s electoral authority ANIE said.
More than 5.3 million people voted for him, accounting for “94.65 percent of the vote,” ANIE head Mohamed Charfi told reporters.
ANIE said it only counted the number of voters who cast a ballot for one of the candidates, excluding blank votes.
Saudi FM receives International Organization for Migration chief in Riyadh
- During the reception, Prince Faisal and Amy Pope reviewed cooperation relations between the Kingdom and the IOM and ways to support and enhance them
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received the Director-General of the International Organization for Migration in Riyadh on Sunday.
During the reception, Prince Faisal and Amy Pope reviewed cooperation relations between the Kingdom and the IOM and ways to support and enhance them.
The two officials also discussed regional and international developments of common interest.
Discover Jeddah brings the city’s soul to life
- Ali Almenaie’s tourism project resulted from the desire to tell the story of the ‘Bride of the Red Sea’
JEDDAH: Jeddah has long been the gateway to the Kingdom, playing a pivotal role in the nation’s economy through its historic ties to commerce and its unique position as a hub for religious tourism, primarily Umrah and Hajj.
With the launch of Vision 2030, the city was destined to be at the forefront of the National Transformation Program, which elevates the tourism sector and establishes an ecosystem capable of welcoming 100 million tourists annually.
In a stroke of serendipity, Discover Jeddah was founded in 2017 — the same year the program’s execution began. Today, the tourism startup is not just encouraging local and international tourists to visit Saudi Arabia, but to discover Jeddah, the Kingdom’s vibrant coastal hub.
The concept is pretty simple: it is all about telling the story of the “Bride of the Red Sea,” said Ali Almenaie, the CEO of the project with roots in Jeddah, where he was born and raised.
He told Arab News: “With too much information out there, I felt that there was a need to show Jeddah through the eyes of those who love it, so that those who have not visited Jeddah or those who have but did not experience the heart and soul of the city, fall in love with it.”
As demand for authentic experiences grew, Almenaie pursued certification from the Ministry of Tourism to become a registered tour guide.
In 2023, he launched Discover Al-Balad, a tour service offering an immersive experience of one of Saudi Arabia’s World Heritage Sites.
On Instagram, Almenaie has curated a visual love letter to Jeddah and Al-Balad, capturing people’s interest, sparking their curiosity and encouraging more people to visit.
I felt that there was a need to show Jeddah through the eyes of those who love it, so that those who have not visited Jeddah or those who have but did not experience the heart and soul of the city, fall in love with it.
Ali Almenaie, Discover Jeddah founder
“From a young age I found myself drawn to the art of curation, capturing and collecting images that resonated with the things I cherished most in life,” Almenaie explained.
“I was captivated by the power of visuals to tell a story. This love for storytelling naturally extended to Jeddah, the city of my heart. I began to gather images that could capture its essence, hoping to piece together a narrative that was both personal and profound.”
Almenaie added that he felt there was “a glaring absence, a silence where there should have been a vibrant, visual tale of Jeddah.”
He said: “The city’s story was out there, waiting to be told, but it was missing the richness that only images could convey. I realized that what was lacking was a visual narrative — one that could bring to life the soul of Jeddah, beyond words, in a way that was immediate and impactful.”
In addition to guided tours, Discover Jeddah offers advertising services that include storytelling about significant locations in Jeddah.
It also offers multilingual tours to ensure that everyone can easily appreciate the city’s significance and its heritage sites. It also suggests optimal times for tours, so visitors can make the most of their experience, capturing beautiful moments to cherish and share.
One tourist from Ghana provided feedback, which said: “This tour doesn’t just show you the structures and tell you the facts, it takes you back in time to sense, see, and feel the old city. The tour is very family-friendly and tailored to the interests of the audience.”
Almenaie said: “We are planning to add more tour guides who can communicate in Japanese, Chinese, Urdu, Hindi, and Malayalam.”
There are only five tour guides, including Almenaie, at present. The reason for the small number is to ensure that quality does not get compromised while giving tours.
And while the focus is on Jeddah, the company occasionally runs tours in Madinah, Makkah and Riyadh in Arabic, English, German, Italian, French, and Spanish.
To Almenaie, running a tourism operation means avoiding “a purely transactional approach to business.”
He added: “This helps us identify people who have a genuine interest in discovering the city, allowing us to focus our efforts on them and save time by not pursuing those who may not fully appreciate what we offer.”
The most common nationalities using the services of Discover Jeddah are Americans, Brazilians, Europeans, Indians, and Ghanaians. Domestic tourists have mostly been Saudis, and British, German, Russian, and Egyptian residents.
One of the veteran tour guides is Kholoud Abdulwassie, who used to live in Germany. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in zoology from King Abdulaziz University, which gave her valuable insights into the fauna of Saudi Arabia.
She has been with Discover Jeddah for two years now, and told Arab News: “My love for my city, especially the historic Al-Balad, where my family’s roots are and our houses still stand, drew me to this role. After learning about Discover Jeddah, I was eager to join a team that felt like the perfect match.”
Abdulwassie believes that each day brings something new, and added: “On tour days we welcome guests and lead them through the wonders of Jeddah. On days without tours, we focus on brainstorming and creating fresh experiences to offer.”
Al-Balad, with its captivating historic charm, remains the most popular destination. Other must-see highlights in Jeddah include the bustling fish market, the luxurious Jeddah Yacht Club, the serene Al-Rahma Mosque, popularly known as the “Floating Mosque,” and the picturesque Al-Hamra Corniche, home to the stunning King Fahd’s Fountain.
A brief tour of Al-Balad takes about 1.5 hours, while a more in-depth exploration, including its hidden gems, can last three to four hours. Full-day tours, which cover multiple locations, typically extend to around eight hours. These experiences often include tasting traditional Saudi food and learning about the daily life of a typical Saudi family.
Abdulwassie said that to engage with tourists from different cultural backgrounds was crucial.
She added: “It allows me to tailor each experience to the unique interests of our guests.
“As Jeddah natives, we’re accustomed to interacting with people from all over the world, especially during Hajj. My personal experiences, having visited around 25 countries and lived in Germany and Egypt, provide me with a broad cultural perspective that I bring to every tour.”
Among the most challenging situations Abdulwassie encounters is dealing with Jeddah’s humidity and blistering summer heat.
She said: “Summer weather can be challenging, so we design special routes with frequent air-conditioned stops to keep our guests cool and hydrated.”
She added: “I once had the privilege of guiding a UK traveler who was visiting Saudi Arabia as her 198th country. It was an honor to show her around, and she later invited me to her home in London. Together, we enjoyed marking Saudi Arabia on her travel map.”
