عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

AlUla World Archaeology Conference to Explore Challenges, Future of Nomadic Societies

The conference will bring together researchers and experts in archaeology and cultural heritage from around the world. SPa
The conference will bring together researchers and experts in archaeology and cultural heritage from around the world. SPa
TT
TT

AlUla World Archaeology Conference to Explore Challenges, Future of Nomadic Societies

The conference will bring together researchers and experts in archaeology and cultural heritage from around the world. SPa
The conference will bring together researchers and experts in archaeology and cultural heritage from around the world. SPa

The Royal Commission for AlUla will host a global archaeology conference addressing the future of archeology and the heritage of nomadic societies on October 30-31.
The conference, set to alternate with the AlUla World Archaeology Summit year after year, will bring together researchers and experts in archaeology and cultural heritage from around the world.
At the Maraya mirrored wonder nestled amidst the captivating landscape of AlUla, the event will consist of presentations, dialogues, workshops, and case studies, and will showcase a collection of archaeological artifacts discovered in AlUla by archaeological missions.
The conference will highlight the essential role of mobility in shaping the world we know today. Since prehistoric times, mobility has been the means to access new opportunities, improve living conditions, explore, and address environmental challenges, natural disasters, and social and political instabilities, among others.
While mobility remains challenging for some, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic's movement restrictions at the time, the conference provides an opportunity to shed light on various aspects of mobility and nomadic societies, challenging traditional assumptions about mobility in the past and present.
The conference will focus on the fundamental role of prehistoric mobility, when movement was the primary means to reach areas with new opportunities and seek life chances. Caravan mobility served as a means to address environmental challenges and natural disasters.
At a time when mobility remains a challenge, the conference offers an opportunity to illuminate different facets of mobility and nomadic societies.
Royal Commission for AlUla Vice President of Culture Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani said in a statement issued Tuesday that the conference aims to provide an advanced and pioneering platform for dialogue and collaboration, and that it will alternate with the summit the following year.
The commission, he said, seeks to maintain the momentum generated by the summit last year through the conference, while preparing for AlUla World Archaeology Summit in 2025.
Alsuhaibani said today AlUla is one of the most active regions in the world regarding archaeological exploration, with over 30,000 archaeological sites identified, and 12 ongoing search projects in its rich cultural landscape.
“AlUla has held a unique position for thousands of years as a crossroads for civilizations, serving as a beacon for cultural and intellectual exchange,” Alsuhaibani said.
Key speakers at the conference include Professor Willeke Wendrich from the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at the University of California, Los Angeles, archaeology Professor Stefano Biagetti from the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain, and Peter Debrine, leader of Sustainable Tourism Programme at UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Paris.
Research overseen by the Royal Commission for AlUla by Saudi and international archaeologists has shed light on various wonders of AlUla's history through the ages, including the massive stone structures known as “mustatil” (rectangle, in Arabic).
Among the discovered wonders are also the ancient stone-built traps for animals, known as “desert kites,” the long “funerary avenues” that connected oases and pastures through corridors lined with tombs, and the dwellings known as the “standing stone circles.”
Studies indicate that early societies in northwestern Arabian Peninsula were more complex and interconnected with the broader region than previously believed.
The conference is anticipated to host the first-ever global exhibition featuring archaeological pieces from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples in Italy. The agenda also includes field visits to prominent archaeological sites in AlUla and surrounding areas of note, including Tayma and Khaybar.

Most Viewed

 
 
Culture

Darah Launches ‘History of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques’ Forum

Muslim pilgrims walk out after the Friday prayer at the Grand mosque ahead of annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia August 17, 2018.REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
Muslim pilgrims walk out after the Friday prayer at the Grand mosque ahead of annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia August 17, 2018.REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
TT
TT

Darah Launches ‘History of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques’ Forum

Muslim pilgrims walk out after the Friday prayer at the Grand mosque ahead of annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia August 17, 2018.REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
Muslim pilgrims walk out after the Friday prayer at the Grand mosque ahead of annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia August 17, 2018.REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) launched Monday the “History of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques” forum at the Hajj Conference and Exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in collaboration with the “Pilgrim Experience Program”.

The forum aims to highlight the Kingdom’s historical and organizational efforts in serving the Two Holy Mosques, document the architectural and artistic transformations of the holy sites, and adopt the latest digital methods for studying the history of Hajj, SPA reported.

Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Chairman of the Council of Muslim Scholars, and member of the Supreme Supervisory Committee for the Hajj and Two Holy Mosques History Project Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa delivered a speech underscoring the importance of preserving the history of Hajj and its landmarks. He emphasized the scholarly responsibility to document the Kingdom’s prominent role in serving pilgrims and caring for the Two Holy Mosques throughout history.

For his part, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfig Al-Rabiah highlighted major advancements in the Hajj ecosystem, including administration, organization, and services. He stressed the importance of harnessing historical research and modern technologies to support decision-making, shape the future of Hajj and Umrah, and enhance the quality of services provided to pilgrims.

The forum aims to promote specialized scientific research in this field and translate its outcomes into educational and media content. It also seeks to shed light on the historical evolution of the Hajj in the Islamic world, reflecting the Kingdom’s deep commitment to documenting and preserving the legacy of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques, two of Islam’s greatest rituals and enduring symbols of civilization.

The forum’s significance lies in its focus on Hajj as a pillar of Islamic identity and a manifestation of unity among Muslims. Through this platform, Darah seeks to transform research outputs into accessible cultural and educational content. Organized as part of the broader project on the history of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques, the forum aligns with the Foundation’s mission to preserve and document the Kingdom’s history and that of its holiest sites.

It aspires to serve as a national and global reference for chronicling the Hajj ritual and promoting the Kingdom’s cultural and civilizational image, in line with Vision 2030 objectives in culture and tourism, through interactive scientific and digital content that showcases the historical depth of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques.

Culture

Mexican Art Historians Weigh in on Upcoming Kahlo’s Auction That Could Fetch up to $60 Million 

"El sueno" by Frida Kahlo is pictured at Sotheby's Marquee Sales Series in New York on November 8, 2025. (AFP)
"El sueno" by Frida Kahlo is pictured at Sotheby's Marquee Sales Series in New York on November 8, 2025. (AFP)
TT
TT

Mexican Art Historians Weigh in on Upcoming Kahlo’s Auction That Could Fetch up to $60 Million 

"El sueno" by Frida Kahlo is pictured at Sotheby's Marquee Sales Series in New York on November 8, 2025. (AFP)
"El sueno" by Frida Kahlo is pictured at Sotheby's Marquee Sales Series in New York on November 8, 2025. (AFP)

Frida Kahlo’s “El sueno (La cama)” — in English, “The Dream (The Bed)” — is causing a stir among art historians as its estimated $40 million to $60 million price tag would make it the most expensive work by any female or Latin American artist when it goes to auction later this month.

Sotheby’s auction house will put the painting up for sale on Nov. 20 in New York after exhibiting it in London, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and Paris.

“This is a moment of a lot of speculation,” said Mexican art historian Helena Chavez Mac Gregor, a researcher at UNAM’s Institute of Aesthetic Research and author of “El liston y la bomba. El arte de Frida Kahlo.” (The ribbon and the bomb. The art of Frida Kahlo).

In Mexico, Kahlo’s work is protected by a declaration of artistic monument, meaning pieces within the country cannot be sold or destroyed. However, works from private collections abroad, like the painting in question, whose owner remains unrevealed, are legally eligible for international sale.

“The system of declaring Mexican modern artistic heritage is very anomalous,” said Mexican curator Cuauhtemoc Medina, an art historian and specialist in contemporary art.

Judas in bed “El sueno (La cama)” was created in 1940 following Kahlo's trip to Paris, where she came into contact with the surrealists.

Contrary to contemporary belief, the skull on the bed’s canopy is not a Day of the Dead skeleton, but a Judas — a handmade cardboard figure. Traditionally lit with gunpowder during Easter, this effigy symbolizes purification and the triumph of good over evil, representing Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.

In the painting, the skeleton is detailed with firecrackers, flowers on its ribs and a smiling grimace — a detail inspired by a cardboard skeleton Kahlo actually kept in the canopy of her own bed.

Kahlo “spent a lot of time in bed waiting for death,” said Chavez Mac Gregor. “She had a very complex life because of all the illnesses and physical challenges with which she lived.”

Although Kahlo’s painting is being auctioned alongside works by surrealists like Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, Max Ernst and Dorothea Tanning, she did not consider herself a member of the movement, despite having met its founder, Andre Breton, in Mexico and had an exhibition organized by him in Paris in 1939.

“Breton was fascinated by Frida’s work, because he saw that surrealist spirit there,” said Chavez Mac Gregor.

Kahlo, a committed communist, considered surrealism — a movement proposing a revolution of consciousness — to be bourgeois. As Chavez Mac Gregor noted, “Frida always had a critical distance from that.”

Despite this, specialists have found elements of surrealism in Kahlo’s work related to the dreamlike, to an inner world and to a revolutionary freedom — a concept visible in a bed suspended in the sky with Kahlo sleeping among a vine.

‘Crazy-priced purchases’

“El sueno (La cama)” was last exhibited in the 1990s, and after the auction, it could disappear from public view once again, a fate shared by many paintings acquired for large sums at auction.

There are exceptions, including “Diego y yo” (“Diego and I”), which set Kahlo’s record sale price when it sold for $34.9 million in 2021.

The painting, depicting the artist and her husband muralist Diego Rivera, was acquired by Argentine business owner Eduardo Costantini and then lent to the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires (Malba) where it remains on exhibit.

Medina, the art historian, regretted that the “crazy-priced” purchases have reduced art to a mere economic value.

He lamented that when funds purchase art as mere investments, like buying shares in a public company, the works are often relegated to tax-free zones to avoid costs. Their fate, he said, “may be worse; they may end up in a refrigerator at Frankfurt airport for decades to come.”

The current sale record for a work by a female artist is held by Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1,” which fetched $44.4 million at Sotheby’s in 2014.

However, the auction market still reflects a profound disparity as no female artist has yet exceeded the maximum sale price of a male artist. The current benchmark is “Salvator Mundi,” attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, which was auctioned by Christie’s for $450.3 million in 2017.

Culture

Islamic Affairs Ministry Pavilion at Sharjah Int’l Book Fair Highlights Saudi Efforts in Serving Islam 

Visitors are seen at the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance’s pavilion at the Sharjah International Book Fair 2025. (SPA)
Visitors are seen at the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance’s pavilion at the Sharjah International Book Fair 2025. (SPA)
TT
TT

Islamic Affairs Ministry Pavilion at Sharjah Int’l Book Fair Highlights Saudi Efforts in Serving Islam 

Visitors are seen at the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance’s pavilion at the Sharjah International Book Fair 2025. (SPA)
Visitors are seen at the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance’s pavilion at the Sharjah International Book Fair 2025. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance’s pavilion at the Sharjah International Book Fair 2025 drew numerous visitors keen to learn about the Kingdom’s efforts in serving Islam and promoting moderation, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

The pavilion showcased a range of scholarly publications and printed materials highlighting the ministry’s work in preserving the holy Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, as well as its Dawah and guidance projects in Saudi Arabia and abroad.

The pavilion features a range of modern technologies, including virtual reality (VR), allowing visitors to engage in an interactive educational experience to explore the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, as well as aspects of the life of Prophet Muhammad.