JEDDAH: The historic district of Al-Balad is buzzing with cultural festivities and traditional celebrations during the holy month as part of the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Ramadan Season.
Ramadan holds a cherished spot in the hearts of residents and visitors, symbolizing a period of spiritual contemplation, community bonding, and family gatherings. In Al-Balad, this sacred month not only honors fasting and prayer, but also embraces joyous festivities that highlight the city’s unique heritage and warm hospitality.
Organized by the Saudi Ministry of Culture, Ramadan Season events span across 30 activation zones, including restaurants, cafes, traditional food stalls, traditional performances, workshops, markets, cultural exhibitions, interactive experiences, and a dedicated kids’ corner.
At the entrance to Bab Al-Balad, visitors are welcomed with traditional Saudi coffee and captivating folklore dance performances, accompanied by camel rides for children. Strolling through the district, visitors can witness the skilled shoemakers, known as kharazon, showcasing their craft live to the delight of spectators.
The streets are lined with traditional exhibits, from the miller displaying quilts, sofas, and cushions to a vendor presenting ancient cosmetic tools, such as kohl and derm.
Saeed Al-Ghamdi, a currency collector showcasing his treasures, said: “I cherish the vibrant atmosphere of Ramadan in Al-Balad, where the community comes together to appreciate and learn about currency.”
He added: “For over 55 years, I have been devoted to currency collection, both paper and coin. I possess coins that date back more than 1,500 years.”
Hanan Aljarwani, a jewelry and art designer, captivates visitors with live embroidery demonstrations and displays of her exquisite work.
Ibrahim Jaafar, the founder of Modern Siwak, is taking part in the bazaar for the first time, introducing his innovative products and educating visitors on the significance of miswak, a traditional tooth-cleaning stick.
“Miswak has been important since the time of Prophet Muhammad. During Ramadan, there is a tendency to buy miswak for use during fasting. I offer the product in a convenient holder with airflow to maintain freshness and ease of reuse, which has been well-received by people,” Jaafar said.
Similarly, Hussein Al-Abdali, a skilled miswak craftsman in Al-Balad since the 1960s, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Culture for providing a special booth to sell miswak and raise awareness about its benefits.
Al-Abdali said that miswak sticks are made from the roots of arak trees, which are found across Saudi Arabia, and he offers various types of miswak for medical benefits.
Bustling bazaars scattered throughout the district offer a variety of products, including thobes, jalabiya, jewelry, bakhoor, oud, perfumes, toys, and decorative lighting.
Maher, the founder of Wakan stores, said: “This marks my third participation in the Ramadan bazaar in Al-Balad. This year, I am presenting a unique collection of enhanced oud and perfumes.”
Abdul Hameed Shalabi, the owner of Sobia Bar, has attracted a bustling crowd to his shop, where he makes and serves sobia, a drink traditionally made from barley, flour, dry bread, and sugar that is especially popular during Ramadan.
“I strive to bring back the memories of sobia during Ramadan and promote it as a healthy drink year-round,” he said.
“By introducing drinks like tamer hindi and hibiscus, along with the unique labania ice cream, I aim to enhance and develop the Hijazi tradition, sharing it not only with locals but also visitors who come from different parts of the world.”
Sara Thagafi, founder of the Modern Art Training Center, has set up workshops during Ramadan Season, including various art sessions, candle making sessions, quick pottery experiences, and perfume-making experiences where visitors can mix their favorite scents to create their own mini-perfumes.
“We also have Ramadan giveaways and art supplies for kids. This is the first time we are offering these workshops during Ramadan. We are creating a unique experience where, instead of just buying items, we are encouraging visitors to create their own perfume while they shop,” she said.
Ahmed Abdo Ahwas, a resident of Al-Balad since 68 years who has constructed many of the district’s houses, said: “There is no place like Al-Balad in Ramadan. Everyone loves to visit. The environment and atmosphere is different during Ramadan. Traditional foods like kibdah, baleela, sandwiches, and fries have distinct flavors and tastes in this month. Al-Balad begins to embrace Ramadan well before its arrival, with each lane offering something special.”
Reflecting on Eid celebrations in Al-Balad, he added: “The festivities during Eid are distinct, too. The decorations are unique, featuring a variety of chocolates and sweets.”
Farah Hassan, who makes sure to visit Al-Balad during Ramadan, said: “It’s nostalgic to visit the place we have been coming to while growing up. Sampling the traditional drinks like sobia and exploring the flavors of Ramadan in Al-Balad was a culinary adventure. The vendors’ passion for their craft was evident in every sip and bite.”
Another visitor, Hamza Yousef, said: “Exploring the vibrant festivities of Ramadan was a truly immersive experience. From the traditional performances to the cultural exhibitions, every moment was filled with warmth and hospitality.”
Festivities light up Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad
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Festivities light up Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad
- Ramadan Season brings a dose of nostalgia with culinary adventures, camel rides and traditional crafts
- The streets are lined with traditional exhibits, from the miller displaying quilts, sofas, and cushions to a vendor presenting ancient cosmetic tools
Saudi cabinet calls for Arab-Islamic summit, urgent political solutions amid regional crises
RIYADH: The Saudi cabinet discussed the Kingdom’s call for an Arab-Islamic summit to address ongoing Israeli aggression in Palestinian territories and Lebanon, in a session chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday.
The cabinet also stressed the urgent need for a political resolution to the crisis in Sudan, urging all parties to honor the commitments outlined in the "Jeddah Declaration" of May 2023. It emphasized the importance of an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, a cessation of hostilities, and the unobstructed delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.
The cabinet also reviewed the Kingdom’s recent hosting of the inaugural meeting of the Global Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution, which brought together representatives from 90 countries and international organizations.
Understanding fans key to building sports brands, says football marketing guru
- Manchester United connects with audiences and “converts followers to fans”
- Saudi clubs should find their own unique point of view
RIYADH: Understanding your fan base is a key element of successfully marketing your sports brand, Manchester United’s director of marketing told the audience at the Athar Festival of Creativity in Riyadh.
During his keynote speech, “Cultural Connection, Unbreakable Bonds and the Power of Stories: Lessons Learnt From a Career in Sports Marketing,” Matt McKie talked about his experience working in notable roles for the Olympics, Nike and EA Sports.
Whether you are a football fan or not, there is no denying that Manchester United is one of the most well-known clubs in the world. But how did it gain its reputation?
Like many popular teams, it is about connecting with your audience and Manchester United has a unique way of “converting followers to fans,” McKie told Arab News.
“I would say the absolute key to finding an audience and growing is really understanding your fans and, in the UK and in Europe, football clubs are bigger than just sports assets, than community assets, they mean more,” he said. “There will be generations of families that have gone to watch the team and support them, so honoring that and respecting that is absolutely key.”
An important marketing tactic for McKie involves researching the upbringing and backgrounds of athletes before their rise to stardom. This is a way to humanize them and create campaigns with a personal touch.
“I think humanizing athletes is an important marketing tactic (and) I think it’s an important human tactic,” he said. “These are individuals in the public eye, there are millions and millions of people watching them, expecting things from them. They have the same problems we have ... so it’s incredibly important that we understand that.”
McKie highlights unique brand identities for emerging football clubs, such as FC Como and Venezia, in Italy, and Forest Green Rovers in England. Venezia is known for its love of fashion while the latter has claimed the title of becoming the first fully vegan football club.
“It’s really about building a profile and understanding who the audience is and then you can serve them the things that will drive them down towards being a fan, and a committed fan, that comes to games etc.
“It’s very important in women’s sports because of the very high proportion of fandom that exists there. It’s important as marketers that we actually bring them closer, we understand them, we give them content that’s going to engage them and not just bring the ideas of men’s football across and expect it to work.”
For Saudi teams, McKie’s advice is to “have a point of view.”
“Within Saudi, a lot of these teams are new or relatively new in the grand scheme of football. So there’s an opportunity to have a point of view and stand for something … to form a team that plays a certain way and isn’t bound by baggage that can come from being a really big heritage brand.”
KSA showcases urban initiatives at Cairo forum
- The pavilion highlights Saudi Arabia’s initiatives in urban development and sustainable city planning
RIYADH: Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, head of the Kingdom’s delegation, visited Saudi Arabia’s pavilion at the 12th World Urban Forum in Cairo, which began on Monday and ends on Nov. 8.
The pavilion, organized by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, features spaces for meetings, workshops and dialogue sessions. It includes over 40 interactive activities and hosts 150 representatives from various Saudi entities.
The pavilion highlights Saudi Arabia’s initiatives in urban development and sustainable city planning, showcasing innovative projects and successful experiences, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
It also showcases the Kingdom’s achievements under Vision 2030, including sustainable transport networks, infrastructure improvements, and enhanced municipal services in cities.
On the sidelines of the forum, Prince Faisal met with several delegation heads to discuss enhancing cooperation and exchanging expertise.
He discussed potential collaboration between Riyadh and Istanbul with Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, focusing on the exchange of skills.
He also met with Anar Guliyev, a member of the cabinet and chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture in Azerbaijan, to discuss cooperation.
Athar Festival begins in Riyadh
- Almost 2,000 people registered for second edition, says organizer
- Veteran Gulf publisher aims to gather region’s creative community
RIYADH: The second Athar Saudi Festival of Creativity kicked off on Tuesday with a full house in Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC.
Hosted by UAE-based Motivate Media Group and communications consultancy TRACCS, the festival will feature 100 regional and international speakers and is expected to bring together almost 2,000 professionals and leaders from the creative marketing industry.
Ian Fairservice, managing partner and group editor-in-chief of Motivate Media Group, will chair the event, with Mohammed Al-Ayed, CEO of TRACCS, as vice chairman.
In an interview with Arab News, Fairservice said: “Athar has a role in bringing together the creative community, and the marketing community.
“The whole ethos of Athar is to create a community, albeit just for a couple of days, where everybody can come together and communicate and share ideas and develop new ones.”
He highlighted the increase of attendees this year, compared to last year’s event.
“All of our numbers have pretty much doubled on last year. We have almost 2,000 attendees registered and, as you can see around us here, it’s absolutely buzzing. The main stage area is completely full. There are probably 100 people standing at the back watching our first keynote speaker today,” he said.
“In terms of other numbers, we have 400 entries for the awards for tomorrow night, of which there are 211 shortlisted.”
Fairservice’s knowledge of the region comes from living in Dubai for 47 years. He formed Motivate Media Group back in 1979 and launched one of the country’s first English-language magazines, “What’s On,” which had a primary readership of tourists and expatriates.
The inspiration behind it was simple — there was no media. It was, he recalls, an era “with no television, no radio, no newspapers, no magazines.”
Today, Motivate Media Group publishes numerous magazines such as “Emirates Woman,” “Gulf Business” and “Business Traveler Middle East.”
“We’ve grown the company organically and have gone into every different aspect of media across the board,” said Fairservice. “It’s been a privilege and a fantastic opportunity to have been able to do this from the ground floor.”
Athar Festival will continue on Wednesday with panel discussions, presentations and fireside chats focused on growing the creative landscape in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and beyond, covering various sectors such as sports, entertainment, and tourism.
The event will conclude with the Athar Awards ceremony on the evening of Nov. 6.
KSrelief expands humanitarian aid to crisis zones
- The 19th plane sent from Riyadh to Lebanon arrived at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Tuesday
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief is intensifying efforts to deliver aid to Lebanon and recently supported those in need of medical assistance in Turkiye.
The 19th plane sent from Riyadh to Lebanon arrived at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Tuesday, carrying food, shelter and medical supplies, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The aid will be used to assist the growing number of people displaced by Israeli airstrikes. Countries such as the UAE, Turkiye, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Canada, Romania and France are also sending aid to Lebanon.
In Turkiye, KSrelief recently concluded a week-long voluntary medical program for specialized surgeries in Tarsus. A team of 32 volunteers performed 31 open-heart operations, five therapeutic catheterizations, and 18 diagnostic catheterizations.
The Saudi aid agency also completed a medical project in Reyhanli for victims of the earthquake in February last year. During this campaign, the medical team treated 537 patients in family medicine, 417 in dermatology, 380 in optometry, and 219 in endocrinology.
In February 2023, KSrelief launched a campaign through the Sahem platform to aid earthquake victims in Syria and Turkiye, raising more than SR524 million ($139.5 million) from more than 3.4 million donations.
