The third edition of the Saudi International Handicrafts Week (Banan) is a prominent cultural platform celebrating handicrafts locally and internationally, aligning with a broader strategy to revive traditional crafts, present them in a contemporary form reflecting the Kingdom’s cultural identity, and support the growing creative economy, SPA reported.
The exhibition, organized as part of the Year of Handicrafts 2025, reaffirms efforts to highlight this sector, empower its practitioners, and provide a space for artisans from across the Kingdom and the world to exchange experiences and diverse expertise.
This year, Banan features extensive international participation, showcasing artistic heritage and craft-making traditions from Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Syria, Jordan, Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, the Maldives, Bulgaria, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Georgia, Austria, Hungary, Albania, Finland, Croatia, Colombia, Cuba, Peru, Chile, Mexico, the US, Australia, Nigeria, Comoros, and China, this edition's guest of honor.
China's expanded presence reflects its cultural significance, with its pavilion showcasing a wide range of traditional Chinese handicrafts and offering visitors a distinctive artistic experience.
This international diversity allows visitors to explore multiple schools of craftsmanship, discover models that blend heritage with innovation, and create new opportunities for cultural interaction and knowledge exchange among artisans.
