How Islamic customs complement local traditions during Ramadan across Saudi Arabia

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AlUla’s Old Town with its marketplace and view of mountains. In Saudi Arabia’s close-knit communities, traditional ways of celebrating the holy month are passed down through the generations, even as new customs spring to life. (Supplied)
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Updated 31 March 2023
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How Islamic customs complement local traditions during Ramadan across Saudi Arabia

  • The Kingdom’s 13 regions revive their own unique and beloved local habits and practices during the holy month 
  • Iftar gatherings include region-specific dishes, decorations and games, often involving the extended community

JEDDAH: For centuries, Muslims across the world have shared common traditions during the holy month of Ramadan stemming from Islamic practices, such as breaking their daylight fast with dates, water or laban, as was the Prophet Muhammad’s custom.

However, some local traditions, which are distinct to a particular nation or region, have found their way into the routines, feasts and celebrations that mark the holy month. Saudi Arabia, with its many diverse regions, is no different.

Every year, in the ninth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar, the Kingdom’s 13 regions, its hundreds of towns and cities, and more rural reaches will revive their own unique and beloved local habits and practices.

In the big cities, the streets are regularly packed with pedestrians and vehicles as shoppers race to make last-minute purchases, while devout worshippers find space amid the bustle for regular prayer and to read from the holy Qur’an.

Togetherness is an important theme of Ramadan, with families, friends and often whole communities gathering at long tables to share in the iftar feast each day after sunset in homes decorated with twinkling lights and lanterns.

The dishes served at these gatherings, and when important feasts take place, are often distinct to a particular local culinary culture and the availability of particular ingredients.




Traditional dishes at a southern table. (Supplied)

In Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, many members of the community will meet before Ramadan to share a last meal of familiar dishes that are uncommon during the holy month. The “ghabgah” is usually held on the night preceding Ramadan or a few days before.

During the month, the region’s popular dishes include balaleet (sweet vermicelli and eggs), asida (lump of dough made by stirring wheat flour into boiling water, sometimes with added butter or honey), samosas, and sago pudding.

Around the middle of the holy month in the Eastern Province and other parts of the Gulf region, children will dress in traditional clothing and go door-to-door in their neighborhood, singing songs in exchange for nuts and candy, in a tradition known as “gergean” or “knocking.”




A shopkeeper prepares an order for traditional sweets for a customer in the capital Riyadh on March 27, 2023, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. (AFP)

On the far side of the peninsula, in the western region of Hijaz, the dish exchange tradition is still alive today. “Al-to’ma” is a year-round custom where a plate is never returned empty. Everything from soups and samosas to traditional dessert delicacies such as qatayef, basboosa, or sago pudding is exchanged.

Many families also share subya, a drink made especially in Ramadan to quench one’s thirst, made from barley or bread soaked overnight with spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, sugar and raisins, to give it its distinctive red color.

“It’s a family’s best kept secret,” Umm Khalid Mashady, a resident of Madinah, told Arab News.




Saudi men shop for traditional beverages during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan in Riyadh. (AFP file)

“My husband takes pride in making the drink every year, and we share it with our neighbors, even those who moved away because that was the way back then. Many people prefer to buy it from stores today, but you’ll still find them following their family recipes.”

Mashady highlights the importance of family during Ramadan gatherings. “A Hijazi table is never without extra family involved,” she said.

“The calm before breaking our fast is common as every household is busy conducting their prayers or reading the holy book in the last hour before sunset, the golden hour. By doing so, even children pick up the habit and grow accustomed to it and will thus pass it down to their children after that.”

Foul (fava beans cooked to a mash) accompanied by tamees (a traditional bread baked in a tandoor) are also two popular staples on a Hijazi table that go hand in hand.




Workers preparing the traditional "Qatayef" sweets, a folded pancake filled with cream or nuts, at a shop in Riyadh. (AFP file photo)

Also common on Saudi dinner tables during Ramadan are dates of all shapes and colors, oats soup, meat and cheese samosas, luqaimat (fried dough), Vimto drink, and kunafa.

These gatherings are about more than just food, however. Games and other family activities are also important traditions. A carrom board, a tradition brought to the Kingdom decades ago from India, is often brought out after the meal and Taraweeh prayers, while others prefer to kick around a soccer ball.

Today, many young men and women like to gather after evening prayers to play baloot, a popular card game in the region, similar to the French Belote.

FASTFACTS

This Ramadan the Grand Mosque in Makkah has launched a welcome initiative for pilgrims and Umrah visitors arriving in Saudi Arabia.

The Grand Mosque has 120 areas for prayer and 12,000 containers of Zamzam water to help ensure a comfortable visit for pilgrims.

Souqs in Saudi Arabia are the best place to buy Ramadan essentials and to experience the hustle and bustle of the holy month.

Al-Balad is Jeddah’s oldest neighborhood, founded in the 7th century A.D., and is home to a plethora of some of the oldest traditional markets.

In the Kingdom’s central region, many male members of Najd families typically break their fast at their local mosque, where they arrive bearing dishes from home.




Foreign workers their fast during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan at a park in Riyadh on March 27, 2023. (AFP)

The tradition is believed to have stemmed from the area’s remoteness and harsh environment, where lower-income families found it difficult to provide for their families.

More privileged families shared their meals and distributed them to the needy as part of the holy month’s custom of helping the underprivileged.

Though it might seem slightly different today, many believe that once people sit at the table together, it does not matter what social class they belong to because they are all equal.




A Saudi man offers Muslim pilgrims Zamzam water upon their arrival in the holy city of Makkah. (AFP file)

“It didn’t matter which family or clan you belonged to. The month brings forth its blessings and we share them with our family and others,” Umm Waleed, 72, a resident of Riyadh and native of Hail, told Arab News.

“Our grandmother taught us that in order to be blessed, we had to share. It does not matter where you are. Our Islamic teachings meshed with our local traditions (have) became an essential part of our community.”

Turning to the northern region, an area close to the border with Iraq and Jordan, many households share traditions with their neighbors, focusing on large gatherings of family and friends with children serving their elders throughout the evening.

Like subya in Hijaz, camel’s milk is a staple ingredient in several of the region’s dishes, such as tarshreeb (pieces of bread soaked in stock and meat), jareesh, al-mlehiya and thareed.


ALSO READ: Makkah’s historic Ramadan cannon remembered 8 years on


Moving toward the southwestern region of the Kingdom, many families have maintained the tradition of breaking their fast at mosques and only have proper meals after evening prayers once they have returned home.

A rifle round is traditionally fired to announce the call of Maghrib prayer in the areas high in the Asir mountains.

Across Saudi Arabia, Ramadan’s Islamic traditions complement local cultures and customs as the close-knit Saudi community prides itself in honoring old ways of celebration and incorporating new ones that fit well into an ever-evolving society.

 


Riyadh Expo 2030 hosts reception in Osaka to boost international cooperation

Updated 18 July 2025
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Riyadh Expo 2030 hosts reception in Osaka to boost international cooperation

OSAKA: Riyadh Expo 2030, in collaboration with the Kingdom’s Embassy in Japan, hosted a reception in Osaka on Thursday to highlight Saudi Arabia’s readiness and promise to deliver an exceptional World Expo.

There were more than 200 local and international guests at the event, including ambassadors and commissioners-general participating in Expo 2025 Osaka.

The evening featured discussions on the theme and three subthemes of Riyadh Expo 2030: “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow;” and “Innovative Technologies,” “Sustainable Solutions,” and “Thriving Communities.”

Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Japan and commissioner-general of the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, opened the event.

In his speech, Binzagr praised the organizers of Expo 2025 Osaka and emphasized the crucial role of diplomatic cooperation in supporting such global events.

“It has been an honor to serve as commissioner-general of the Kingdom’s Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, where I’ve witnessed firsthand the vital role expos play in strengthening international ties and collaboration.

“Tonight’s event provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas and engage in meaningful dialogue with participants from across the globe.”

Abdulaziz Al-Ghannam, commissioner-general of Riyadh Expo 2030, said: “Our journey to host the expo in Riyadh has already begun, and we treat this as a national priority.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — its leadership and people — are fully prepared to welcome the world.

“From the outset, we’ve committed to making Riyadh Expo 2030 a global platform that embraces diverse ideas and perspectives.”

Thamer Al-Saadoun, executive vice president of Riyadh Expo 2030, underscored the importance of the expo’s themes.

“The theme of Riyadh Expo 2030, ‘The Era of Change,’ invites the world to achieve real progress through visionary thinking, innovation, and collaboration.

“It is built upon the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Saudi Vision 2030, with subthemes that reflect the Kingdom’s ongoing transformation and its ambition to create lasting positive global impact,” Al-Saadoun said.

The event is part of a broader effort to foster early engagement and collaboration with participants, with similar initiatives planned in the lead-up to Expo 2030.

Riyadh Expo 2030 will take place from Oct. 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031, spanning an area of 6 million sq. meters, making it one of the largest expos in history.


Umbrella thorn acacia is vital ecological asset in Tabuk

Updated 18 July 2025
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Umbrella thorn acacia is vital ecological asset in Tabuk

  • Highly adaptable, stabilizes soil and fights desertification
  • Acacia is food for bees, producing high-quality wild honey

UMLUJ: In Saudi Arabia’s northwestern region of Tabuk, Acacia tortilis, commonly known as umbrella thorn acacia, thrives in the coastal plains, providing significant ecological and aesthetic benefits, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

Highly adaptable to harsh climatic conditions, the umbrella thorn acacia grows around wadi estuaries, forming shaded canopies that moderate temperatures and provide shelter for wildlife.

With gnarled, reddish-brown trunks and dense branches, these trees create a striking visual spectacle. Their shadows on the sand offer excellent photographic opportunities, attracting enthusiasts and explorers.

As a vital plant species, the umbrella thorn acacia stabilizes soil and combats desertification. It also serves as a food source for bees, enhancing the production of high-quality wild honey.

Environmental authorities prioritize the preservation of these trees to maintain diversity and improve vegetation cover, aligning with the Saudi Green Initiative and national sustainability efforts, the SPA reported.


Saudi leadership extends condolences after Iraq shopping mall fire kills more than 60

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (File/SPA)
Updated 17 July 2025
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Saudi leadership extends condolences after Iraq shopping mall fire kills more than 60

  • A fire tore through a shopping mall in the Iraqi city of Kut on Wednesday night, killing at least 61 people

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman extended their condolences on Thursday to Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid after a fire tore through a shopping mall in the Iraqi city of Kut overnight, killing at least 61 people.

Officials said many people suffocated in the bathrooms of the newly opened shopping mall. A civil defense spokesperson told state media that the fire erupted in the perfume and cosmetics section on the second floor.

Most victims were on the upper floors, while many on the ground floor managed to escape, he said.

The king and crown prince prayed that God forgive the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.


Saudi youth engineer their way to STEM Racing triumph

Updated 17 July 2025
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Saudi youth engineer their way to STEM Racing triumph

DHAHRAN: Cheers and confetti filled the stage at Ithra’s theater in Dhahran on Wednesday night as four teams of Saudi students were crowned national champions in the 2025 STEM Racing competition. 

All four teams earned the honor of representing the Kingdom at the Aramco STEM Racing World Finals 2025, supported by Formula 1, in Singapore from Sept. 27 to Oct. 2. 

The fourth edition of STEM Racing Saudi Arabia, held under the umbrella of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), brought together finalists from six cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran, Dammam, Al-Ahsa, and Abha.

From regional qualifiers to wind tunnel testing, digital simulations, enterprise planning, and brand building, students spent months building mini Formula 1-style race cars and pitching their ideas in front of judges and mentors.

First place nationally was claimed by Team Rimah from Dhahran, a returning competitor who missed out on a qualifying spot the previous year. Second place went to Giddam from Riyadh, followed by Sadeem from Dhahran in third, and YLA Accelerate from Jeddah in fourth.

Team Rimah member Fares Al-Garaawi said the team’s experience has been all about growth. “This wasn’t my first year. I competed last year, too, but we didn’t qualify. I took that lesson and came back stronger,” he said.

First place nationally was claimed by Team Rimah from Dhahran. (AN Photo by Waad Hussain)

Fajer Al-Ameer from Giddam, who also won the Best Pit Display award, said the competition helped her to rebuild after setbacks.

“Last year, I didn’t win. But I came back with a clear goal. I wanted to win — not just make memories or enjoy the events. And this time, I did both,” she said.

More than 1,000 students took part in this year’s edition, with finalists selected through a series of rigorous regional qualifiers. The program blends engineering and enterprise with creative branding, public speaking, digital marketing, and sustainability.

Alongside the four winners, 14 special awards were made to recognize outstanding achievements in areas such as speed, design, sustainability, branding, and communication.

Using advanced tools such as CAD modeling, 3D printing, and wind tunnel simulations, each team was tasked with building a high-performance miniature race car powered by compressed carbon dioxide, and refined for aerodynamics, branding, and data precision.

Held under the theme “Engineering the Future,” the final ceremony celebrated not only winners, but also resilience, creativity, and collaboration. Students shared stories of failure turned into learning, and learning turned into leadership.

Fajer Al-Ameer from Giddam team. (AN Photo by Waad Hussain)

The top four teams will now represent Saudi Arabia in Singapore at the F1 in Schools World Finals, where students from over 30 countries will compete. Past Saudi teams have gained global attention, and expectations are high for this year’s delegation.

The initiative is part of Ithra’s broader mission to empower young Saudis through experiential learning that aligns with Vision 2030. By combining technical training with soft skills and national representation, STEM Racing is turning passion into purpose.

As the lights dimmed on the ceremony, students stood smiling with their medals, trophies, and mentors. The cars may be small, but their dreams are running full speed ahead.


Saudi surgeons successfully separate conjoined 7-month-old twins in 15-hour operation

Updated 17 July 2025
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Saudi surgeons successfully separate conjoined 7-month-old twins in 15-hour operation

  • Twins Yara and Lara were joined at the lower abdomen and pelvis, had separate upper and lower limbs but shared some internal organs
  • ‘The joy after the separation of the twins is indescribable; it’s a completely different kind of happiness,” says their father Muaid Al-Shehri
  • This surgery is the 65th operation of its kind in the 35-year history of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program

RIYADH: Surgeons in Saudi Arabia successfully separated 7-month-old conjoined twins during a 15-hour operation at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in Riyadh on Thursday.

Muaid Al-Shehri, the father of the twins, Yara and Lara, described the operation as a profound and emotional moment for his family.

“The support has been great,” he said. “Honestly, the joy after the separation of the twins is indescribable; it’s a completely different kind of happiness.

“There was absolutely no hesitation when we were told the twins could be separated — it was pure joy. It was truly something extraordinary. We thank God and are deeply grateful for our great nation.”

The twins were joined at the lower abdomen and pelvis. They had separate upper and lower limbs but shared some organs in the lower abdomen and pelvis.

Speaking to Arab News before the operation was completed, Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, an adviser to the Royal Court and general supervisor of Saudi aid agency KSrelief, said that one of the main difficulties surgeons faced was working in a small space where several critical anatomical features overlapped.

“The big challenge here is that we are working in a narrow space where many structures join,: he said. “We’re talking about a joint rectum, joint parts of the urinary bladder.

“This case is complex. It involves many doctors, specialists and technicians. We are expecting 38 members to participate in this surgery, from consultants, specialists (to) technicians, nurses.

“It is a delicate surgery. We expect to lose some blood but I am confident in my colleagues and their experience. We have done similar cases in the past with success, and I’m sure that (God willing) this case will be another achievement for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

The surgery was the 65th operation of its kind in the 35-year history of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program. Al-Rabeeah said that the work of the program continues far beyond surgery.

“The case does not end with the separation,” he explained. “First of all, immediately after separation they will need a lot of extensive care in the pediatric intensive care unit to ensure that they recover very well.

“When they recover from surgery, they will be subjected to an intensive rehabilitation and physiotherapy program so that they will be able to be active and will be able to sit and stand outdoors.”

Cases such as this one reflect the broader transformation of the Kingdom’s healthcare sector in line with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification, Al-Rabeeah said.

“This is one of the most complex surgeries that are done worldwide, and Saudi Arabia is leading the world,” he added.

“So this is actually a reflection of the (Vision 2030) that the healthcare of Saudi Arabia will not only be of a high standard but also filled with capable young boys and girls from Saudi Arabia.”

Dorrah Alsaadoon, a social worker assisting the family at the hospital, told Arab News that the provision of support is essential to help prepare relatives for the separation surgery.

“Psychological and social support helps the family cope with fear and anxiety, strengthens their ability to adapt, and gives them the emotional strength to face the challenges of surgery and beyond with resilience and hope,” she said.

“My role, as a social worker responsible for conjoined twins, is to provide emotional and psychological support to the family, prepare them mentally for the surgery, help them understand the medical process, and ease their anxiety before and during the operation.”

She also highlighted the fact that the care provided to the family will continue long after the operation.

“Post-surgery support systems include psychological and social support, sessions to help parents emotionally prepare for reconnecting with their children after the changes, and guidance to help them adjust to the new demands of daily life,” Alsaadoon said.

She added that the twins themselves will also require physical and psychological support.

“After surgery, the twins need physical rehabilitation to strengthen their muscles and learn independent movement, and psychological support to help them adjust to their new bodies, build a sense of identity and develop independence.”