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Jeddah Historic District Program Unveils New Archaeological Finds at Heritage Nassif House

Nassif House is open daily with two visiting slots: 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm, offering both morning and evening visits. - SPA
Nassif House is open daily with two visiting slots: 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm, offering both morning and evening visits. - SPA
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Jeddah Historic District Program Unveils New Archaeological Finds at Heritage Nassif House

Nassif House is open daily with two visiting slots: 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm, offering both morning and evening visits. - SPA
Nassif House is open daily with two visiting slots: 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm, offering both morning and evening visits. - SPA

The Ministry of Culture's Jeddah Historic District Program is currently showcasing a plethora of archaeological discoveries at the heritage Nassif House, unearthed during a recent excavation campaign. Among these treasures are ancient ebony pillars from the Othman bin Affan Mosque mihrab, dating back to the early Hijri centuries.
The program had earlier revealed the discovery of about 25,000 artefacts and remnants of archaeological materials dating back to the first and second Hijri centuries at historical sites, including the Othman bin Affan Mosque, sections of the eastern moat, and the northern wall. This discovery is part of an archaeological initiative managed by the Jeddah Historic District Program, SPA reported.
Situated in the Al-Alawi Market within Historic Jeddah, Al-Balad, Nassif House holds immense historical importance, particularly since it served as the residence of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud during the initial years of his reign in Jeddah.
This initiative reflects the program's commitment to enriching the visitor experience, showcasing the region's archaeological treasures, emphasizing historically significant sites, and preserving them. It also aims to bolster Historic Jeddah's position as a cultural hub, aligning with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 regarding heritage preservation.

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Egypt Opens More Galleries in Long-Awaited Antiquities Museum

A King Ramses II statue displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum during the trial partial operation in Giza, Egypt, 15 October 2024. (EPA)
A King Ramses II statue displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum during the trial partial operation in Giza, Egypt, 15 October 2024. (EPA)
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Egypt Opens More Galleries in Long-Awaited Antiquities Museum

A King Ramses II statue displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum during the trial partial operation in Giza, Egypt, 15 October 2024. (EPA)
A King Ramses II statue displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum during the trial partial operation in Giza, Egypt, 15 October 2024. (EPA)

Egypt opened a series of galleries to the public on Tuesday in its flagship new museum, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), located near the pyramids of Giza.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly last week announced a "trial opening" ahead of a formal inauguration. Egyptian officials say a number of world leaders have expressed interest in attending the official opening but have not indicated when this will take place.

Pharaonic statues are showcased at the Grand Staircase of the Grand Egyptian Museum during a partial trial in Giza, Egypt, October 15, 2024. (Reuters)

The museum's main entrance hall with its stairway of Pharaonic statues and an annex for commercial shopping opened to the public in February 2023.

Ali Abu Al-Shish, a member of the Egyptian Archaeologists Union who attended Tuesday's opening of almost a dozen galleries, said the trial operation of the vast museum was evidence Egypt now had the space to exhibit its antiquities, including those being returned by Western states and museums.

It's an "important message that we can recover our antiquities, which are spread across various countries in the world," he said.

Visiting Russian tourist Kseniia Muse said: "We are so happy to be here, to have visited these beautiful sculptures... It is very modern and at the same time you can touch the ancient."

Pharaonic statues are displayed at the Grand Staircase of the Grand Egyptian Museum during a partial trial in Giza, Egypt, October 15, 2024. (Reuters)

Tourism is an important source of foreign currency revenue for Egypt. The government has been trying to increase tourist numbers after facing a long-running foreign currency shortage that was exacerbated by external shocks.

Until now, Egypt's most famous collections have been housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo's Tahrir Square, which has been largely unmodernized and unrenovated since opening in 1902.