Fareed bin Saad Al-Shehri, director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ branch in Makkah, received Cabdiwali Xirsi Cabdille, consul general of Somalia in Jeddah, on Wednesday.

Cabdille presented his credentials to Al-Shehri at the ministry’s offices in Jeddah, and they discussed issues of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Meanwhile, Khalid Bawazier, Saudi Arabia’s deputy minister of finance for international relations, met with a delegation from Bahrain’s Ministry of Finance and National Economy in Riyadh, the Foreign Ministry posted on X.

RIYADH: Handicrafts have long held a special place in Saudi Arabia’s cultural fabric, representing a prosperous heritage passed down through generations.

Rooted in the creativity and skill of Saudi artisans of both sexes, these traditional crafts symbolize the nation’s ingenuity and resilience while highlighting its diverse cultural identity.

Throughout 2025, the Saudi Ministry of Culture will organize an array of events, exhibitions, educational programs and competitions under the banner of “Year of Handicrafts,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.

These activities aim to emphasize the cultural and historical significance of handicrafts while supporting their relevance in modern life.

Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan said: “Saudi handicrafts reflect the creativity of Saudi society through weaving, handmade artifacts and artistic innovations passed down through generations.”

The initiative seeks to foster appreciation for traditional arts and encourage their continued practice and preservation. “Among these are pottery, traditional clothing, ceramic utensils, leatherwork, copperwork, tailoring, dyeing, blacksmithing, gold and jewelry crafting, and other handmade creations by Saudi artisans,” he said.

The Ministry of Culture aims to elevate Saudi handicrafts locally and internationally, empowering artisans and boosting their contribution to the economy. This will be achieved through events organized with partners to highlight the cultural, historical and economic importance of handicrafts.

Through partnerships across the public, private and non-profit sectors, the Year of Handicrafts will cultivate sustainable practices, foster innovation and contribute to cultural dialogue.

In Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region, women play a pivotal role in preserving these traditional arts.

Handicrafts are passed down through generations and traditionally inherited by women, and are intricately connected to the region’s natural environment, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.

Most notable are Sadu, tent and textile making and embroidered handicrafts, some of which may take 10 continuous days to make.

With these handicrafts, women record a strong presence at national events and festivals, in the region and beyond, the report said.

The traditional market in Arar, which opened more than 10 years ago, supports many elderly craftswomen and their granddaughters, allocating them places to display their products and handicrafts.

The market, in addition to Al-Khozama Hall, has emerged as an important heritage destination that offers families specialized courses on buying and selling, saving money and e-marketing.

Several craftswomen said that they inherited their craft from their mothers and passed them on to their granddaughters, especially since marketing these products to many people in the region also created economic opportunities, SPA reported.

Meanwhile, the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts in Riyadh will launch the Wrth Community initiative on Saturday, marking the beginning of its year-long celebration of the “Year of Handicrafts.”

The initiative will feature a series of meetings and dialogues with leading figures in the field, as well as educational workshops. The initiative seeks to revitalize and modernize traditional handicrafts by incorporating contemporary design and technologies, fostering collaboration among institutions and the local community, and highlighting the crucial role of traditional arts in preserving cultural identity.

The initiative will also help individuals to use these arts in innovative ways through specialized training, the SPA reported.

It covers a diverse range of areas — education, handicrafts and entrepreneurship — and features dialogue sessions, providing a platform for skill development, experience exchange and the fostering of creativity and innovation.