Janbiya Demand Surges During Eid at Souq Khamis Mushait

The souq caters to every taste and budget - SPA
The souq caters to every taste and budget - SPA
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Janbiya Demand Surges During Eid at Souq Khamis Mushait

The souq caters to every taste and budget - SPA
The souq caters to every taste and budget - SPA

Eid Al-Fitr witnesses a surge in demand for janbiyas -- short, curved daggers -- as they are considered a symbol of festivity and adornment during this Eid.
Souq Khamis Mushait, a bustling marketplace in Khamis Mushait city, southern Saudi Arabia, is a haven for traditional janbiyas. Visitors from across the region come to explore this treasure trove, a captivating glimpse into the Kingdom's rich heritage, SPA reported.
The janbiya, a symbol of pride and honor, is a cherished part of Saudi culture. Worn during celebrations, it is a reminder of the country's deep traditions.
The souq caters to every taste and budget, offering intricately crafted silver janbiyas alongside rare antiques. Prices depend on craftsmanship, materials, engravings, and rarity, ranging from SAR1,000 to over SAR100,000.
Khamis Mushait's commercial roots run deep, with the city serving as a major trading center for centuries. Beyond janbiyas, the souq offers livestock, dates, and a variety of other goods.



UN Puts 4th Century Gaza Monastery on Endangered Site List

The Saint Hilarion complex dates back to the fourth century. Mahmud HAMS / AFP/File
The Saint Hilarion complex dates back to the fourth century. Mahmud HAMS / AFP/File
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UN Puts 4th Century Gaza Monastery on Endangered Site List

The Saint Hilarion complex dates back to the fourth century. Mahmud HAMS / AFP/File
The Saint Hilarion complex dates back to the fourth century. Mahmud HAMS / AFP/File

The Saint Hilarion complex, one of the oldest monasteries in the Middle East, has been put on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites in danger due to the war in Gaza, the body said Friday.
UNESCO said the site, which dates back to the fourth century, had been put on the endangered list at the demand of Palestinian authorities and cited the "imminent threats" it faced.
"It's the only recourse to protect the site from destruction in the current context," Lazare Eloundou Assomo, director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, told AFP, referring to the war sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel.
In December, the UNESCO Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict decided to grant "provisional enhanced protection" -- the highest level of immunity established by the 1954 Hague Convention -- to the site.
UNESCO had then said it was "already concerned about the state of conservation of sites, before October 7, due to the lack of adequate policies to protect heritage and culture" in Gaza.
The Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in the deaths of 1,197 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed at least 39,175 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, which does not give details of civilian and militant deaths.