From Ardah to Samri: Diriyah festivities bring Saudi culture to life

From Ardah to Samri: Diriyah festivities bring Saudi culture to life
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The Diriyah Gate Development Authority has revealed an exciting lineup of events and activities for residents and visitors to celebrate this year’s Eid Al-Fitr. (SPA)
From Ardah to Samri: Diriyah festivities bring Saudi culture to life
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The Diriyah Gate Development Authority has revealed an exciting lineup of events and activities for residents and visitors to celebrate this year’s Eid Al-Fitr. (SPA)
From Ardah to Samri: Diriyah festivities bring Saudi culture to life
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The Diriyah Gate Development Authority has revealed an exciting lineup of events and activities for residents and visitors to celebrate this year’s Eid Al-Fitr. (SPA)
From Ardah to Samri: Diriyah festivities bring Saudi culture to life
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The Diriyah Gate Development Authority has revealed an exciting lineup of events and activities for residents and visitors to celebrate this year’s Eid Al-Fitr. (SPA)
From Ardah to Samri: Diriyah festivities bring Saudi culture to life
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The Diriyah Gate Development Authority has revealed an exciting lineup of events and activities for residents and visitors to celebrate this year’s Eid Al-Fitr. (SPA)
From Ardah to Samri: Diriyah festivities bring Saudi culture to life
6 / 6
The Diriyah Gate Development Authority has revealed an exciting lineup of events and activities for residents and visitors to celebrate this year’s Eid Al-Fitr. (SPA)
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Updated 11 April 2024
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From Ardah to Samri: Diriyah festivities bring Saudi culture to life

From Ardah to Samri: Diriyah festivities bring Saudi culture to life
  • Festivities are set to take place across various locations, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif, the premium culinary destination of Bujairi Terrace, and Diriyah mosques
  • Festivities will feature a series of events, including captivating performances of the Saudi Ardah, the traditional celebratory dance, and the lively Samri folklore dance

RIYADH: The historic town of Diriyah has been transformed into a festive wonderland as the Diriyah Gate Development Authority has revealed an exciting lineup of events and activities for residents and visitors to celebrate this year’s Eid Al-Fitr.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, festivities are set to take place across various locations, including the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif, the premium culinary destination of Bujairi Terrace, and Diriyah mosques.

The Eid Al-Fitr celebrations at At-Turaif will embody traditional Saudi hospitality. Visitors will be greeted with the rich aroma of Saudi coffee and dokhon, promising an unforgettable experience.

The festivities will feature a series of events, including captivating performances of the Saudi Ardah, the traditional celebratory dance, and the lively Samri folklore dance, the SPA reported.

In addition to activating the Nuzul experience, it transports visitors back in time to immerse them in the daily life of At-Turaif during the First Saudi State.

Through a series of theatrical performances, guests get a glimpse of life as it was 300 years ago. Each mudbrick house along Nuzul Street represents a different aspect of that era, inviting visitors to step inside and experience history like never before.

From shopping in the souq to schooling and visiting the doctor, the Nuzul experience offers a unique opportunity to engage with the past in a truly immersive way.

Visitors can partake in activities such as the purebred Arabian horse show, the Diriyah coffee workshop, and calligraphy stalls offering beautifully written Arabic names.

The DGDA decorated five mosques across the city to elevate the festive spirit for the Eid Al-Fitr celebrations. These mosques hosted special breakfast tables on the first day of Eid, creating a warm and welcoming environment for everyone.

The Huwamah event also featured several buses touring Diriyah’s neighborhoods in the evening, allowing families and visitors to partake in the Eid activities.

Nearly 25,000 gifts, including chocolate boxes, were distributed at various sites, adding to the festivities, the SPA stated.

Souq Al-Mawsim also welcomed visitors for the first time during Eid Al-Fitr, offering a range of exciting activities.

Visitors to Bujairi Terrace were able to indulge in a variety of activities, including live music performances, engaging storytelling sessions, curated workshops for children, and a range of traditional games and activities.

The authority remains committed to fostering strong connections with the local Diriyah community, extending a heartfelt welcome to residents and visitors on all occasions throughout the year.


Eltiqa dazzles Kingdom’s capital with Saudi, Brazilian performance arts

Eltiqa dazzles Kingdom’s capital with Saudi, Brazilian performance arts
Updated 01 February 2025
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Eltiqa dazzles Kingdom’s capital with Saudi, Brazilian performance arts

Eltiqa dazzles Kingdom’s capital with Saudi, Brazilian performance arts

RIYADH: Highlighting the shared artistic heritage of Saudi Arabia and Brazil, Eltiqa once again captured hearts in the Kingdom’s capital this weekend.

Organized by the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, Wrth, and held under the patronage of Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the event featured Saudi and Brazilian traditional performances and arts at the King Fahd Cultural Center.

“I wanted to see the mix (of cultures) that they have done between Saudi and Brazilian culture,” said Abdulaziz Al-Ansari, one of the visitors at Eltiqa. “It’s honestly amazing. I didn’t even 1 percent imagine it would be this good.”

The event highlighted the harmony between the two countries through five performances from each side and a combined dance performance that merged the traditional arts of Saudi Arabia and Brazil.

Asma Al-Sayyari, a social media influencer and visitor, described the event as “magical.” She added: “What I liked the most was they brought 100 percent Saudi culture, 100 percent Brazilian culture, then they mixed the two very beautifully.”

The cultural center also displayed a collaborative artwork titled “Harmony” by a Saudi artist and a Brazilian artist, as well as 15 cultural events such as movement activities, art pieces, and workshops to connect people and introduce the visual arts of both countries.

“Extraordinary … I salute Saudi Arabia and I salute the Brazilian people,” said Samar Abdullah, a Saudi model and visitor at Eltiqa.

Eltiqa is one of many Wrth initiatives that aims to promote global cultural exchange between the Kingdom and other countries, as well as create a platform to link traditional arts locally and internationally.

Through such events, the center hopes to present Saudi Arabia’s traditional arts as part of Saudi Vision 2030’s objective to preserve and enhance cultural heritage.

“You can’t imagine how full I am with beautiful energy. I feel very, very good,” said Yusha Al-Sayyari, another visitor.


Umrah guests laud Saudi efforts to preserve holy sites

Umrah guests laud Saudi efforts to preserve holy sites
Updated 01 February 2025
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Umrah guests laud Saudi efforts to preserve holy sites

Umrah guests laud Saudi efforts to preserve holy sites

JEDDAH: The third group of guests from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Umrah and Visit, organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, visited the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba kiswa.

They toured the facility and learned about the kiswa’s production process and raw materials, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The guests also visited the Revelation Exhibition in the Hira Cultural District, where they explored the story of the Qur’an’s revelation.

The group includes 250 Umrah performers from 18 African countries, the SPA reported.

Guests praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts to preserve historical sites in Makkah and Madinah, and highlighted projects that recreate the Prophet Muhammad’s journey, enriching visitors’ connections to his life.

They acknowledged development projects enhancing the experience for Umrah performers, pilgrims and visitors, according to the SPA.


Riyadh to host creativity olympiad finals

Riyadh to host creativity olympiad finals
Updated 01 February 2025
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Riyadh to host creativity olympiad finals

Riyadh to host creativity olympiad finals

RIYADH: The final phase of the 15th annual National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity, or Ibdaa, will be held from Feb. 3-6 at the Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University conference center in Riyadh.

The event is being organized in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba.

The olympiad will feature 200 research and innovation projects submitted by students from 22 scientific fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The projects were selected from more than 23,000 entries received during earlier stages of the competition, the SPA added.

Sixty-eight winners will be chosen to represent Saudi Arabia at international and regional competitions, including the International Science and Engineering Fair in the US.

The olympiad is an annual international contest for middle and high school students in standards and technology. It started as a local event in South Korea in 2006, and became an international contest in 2014.


Kingdom arrests 21,564 illegals in one week

Kingdom arrests 21,564 illegals in one week
Updated 01 February 2025
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Kingdom arrests 21,564 illegals in one week

Kingdom arrests 21,564 illegals in one week

RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 21,564 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

A total of 13,883 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,668 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 3,013 for labor-related issues.

The report showed that among the 1,477 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 55 percent were Ethiopian, 41 percent Yemeni, and 4 percent were of other nationalities.

A further 90 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 18 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators, the SPA reported.

The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years and a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000).

Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.


Asir’s heritage village blends history, arts

Asir’s heritage village blends history, arts
Updated 01 February 2025
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Asir’s heritage village blends history, arts

Asir’s heritage village blends history, arts

RIYADH: Al-Yanfeh, a 1,400-year-old archaeological village in Asir, has become a hub for contemporary arts following restoration efforts over the past two years, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Located 40 km southwest of Abha, the village features terraced stone buildings, an agricultural area irrigated by more than 70 wells — including seven rock-carved wells — and about 50 circular grain storage graves.

Ali Abu Alwa of the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society emphasized Al-Yanfeh’s historical and cultural value, citing its architecture, houses and water channels.

The site includes 400 historic houses, six mosques and 36 ancient passages connecting neighborhoods, the SPA reported.

Project supervisor Ali Al-Ghathimi said that the village’s red sandstone mountain facilitated well digging. 

At 2,600 meters above sea level, the village benefits from a moderate climate influenced by monsoon winds and two rainy seasons, Al-Ghathimi said.

Recent upgrades by the Asir municipality include rehabilitated passages, stone-clad squares, period-appropriate lighting and a natural wood drainage system for rainwater.