عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

Ithra Showcases Ithra Design Week at Milan Design Week 2026

Ithra Showcases Ithra Design Week at Milan Design Week 2026
TT
TT

Ithra Showcases Ithra Design Week at Milan Design Week 2026

Ithra Showcases Ithra Design Week at Milan Design Week 2026

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), an initiative of Aramco, is participating in Milan Design Week, one of the world’s most prominent annual design events, taking place during April 20-26, 2026. This participation reflects the center’s aspirations to strengthen the role of design within the cultural landscape. As part of its presence, Ithra is presenting key features of Ithra Design Week (IDW)—announced last year as a dedicated platform supporting the design sector and designers, aimed at fostering collaboration, nurturing creativity, and advancing design content from the Arab world on the global stage.

As part of its participation, Ithra is presenting the exhibition “Default is Not Universal” at the Isola Design Festival, within the framework of Milan Design Week 2026. The exhibition represents the first tangible realization of Ithra Design Week as a regional platform for designers, showcasing their creativity and cultural narratives to international audiences while opening channels for global dialogue on the future of design, SPA reported.

Manager of Programs at Ithra Nourh Al-Zamil said: “Ithra’s participation in Milan Design Week; one of the most important global events in the field of design, reflects the Center’s mission to empower creative talent, strengthen cultural exchange, and support the growth of the creative economy at both regional and international levels. It also highlights Ithra Design Week 2026, that announced last year as a platform dedicated to supporting and advancing the future of Arab design.”

Al-Zamil added that Ithra’s international participation in leading design and creativity forums serves as an important platform for attracting designers from across the Middle East. She noted that the “Default is Not Universal” exhibition, presented in collaboration with Isola Design; a partnership spanning four years; aims to empower creativity and connect designers from around the world. She emphasized that the exhibition reflects Ithra’s continued efforts to build a year-round integrated ecosystem enabling designers to collaborate, grow, and thrive.

The “Default is Not Universal” exhibition features works by eight designers from across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and includes seven interactive stations. Through the use of artificial intelligence, the exhibition collects visitor interaction data and transforms it into a dynamic map illustrating how cognitive patterns are shaped by diverse cultural influences. In an innovative step, this data will later be used to commission a designer to produce an entirely new piece reflecting the exhibition’s insights and outcomes.

The exhibition represents a collaborative experience between Ithra and Isola Design and is the outcome of a four-year partnership. Following its debut, the exhibition will be expanded and travel to Saudi Arabia, where it will serve as the anchor international exhibition of the main Ithra Design Week event scheduled to take place later this year.

The exhibition’s seven interactive stations include “The Collective Sofa,” a white seating installation by Studio Oblique (UAE) that transforms through visitor interaction into a shared archive reflecting their contributions; “Moments of Absence,” a sculptural installation featuring miniature ceramic chairs by Fajr Al-Basri (Bahrain) that invites visitors to select and sketch the chair they most identify with; and “Body Blocks,” an interactive game by Davina Atteya (Lebanon) inspired by Mesopotamian figurative forms, enabling users to assemble hybrid characters through modular components.

Additional stations include “Attar Al-Balad,” a sensory installation composed of sculptural blocks formed from traditional Saudi herbs and spices that re-evokes memory through scent; “Reflections,” a collection of mirrors by designers from Egypt, the UAE, and Morocco exploring visitors’ perceptions of color, form, and identity; “Majma,” an interactive musical instrument by digital artist Samit Rohila enabling visitors to collaboratively compose spontaneous collective soundscapes; and finally “Daughters of Berythus,” an installation embedding traces of craft traditions and everyday life that invites visitors to explore material memory through touch.

Most Viewed

 
 
Culture

Hegra Highlights Status as Saudi Arabia’s First UNESCO World Heritage Site

Hegra Highlights Status as Saudi Arabia’s First UNESCO World Heritage Site
TT
TT

Hegra Highlights Status as Saudi Arabia’s First UNESCO World Heritage Site

Hegra Highlights Status as Saudi Arabia’s First UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a land that has witnessed successive civilizations whose traces remain across its regions, is home to AlUla Governorate, where the Hegra Archaeological Site stands as part of this rich human heritage.

It was the first Saudi site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, a testament to Saudi Arabia’s deep civilizational heritage and its commitment to preserving and safeguarding it for future generations.

As Saudi Arabia celebrates Saudi National Day, Hegra evokes part of the history of the Arabian Peninsula and the civilizational and cultural exchanges that took place across the region through the ages, according to SPA.

The Hegra Archaeological Site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008, becoming the first Saudi site to be added to the list, in an achievement that reflects its exceptional historical and civilizational significance. The site contains archaeological remains and carved rock facades that showcase the Nabataeans’ engineering and sculptural expertise.

Saudi Arabia, represented by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), pays particular attention to the Hegra Archaeological Site through comprehensive efforts to preserve the site and safeguard its archaeological and historical components.

These conservation efforts are complemented by archaeological studies, surveys, and research conducted by the RCU in cooperation with experts and academic institutions.

Hegra remains one of the Kingdom’s most prominent heritage sites and a destination for visitors and researchers from around the world.

Culture

Tyre’s Ruins Survived the Strikes. Now Divers are Finding their Way Back Underwater

A diver passes above Roman-era columns at an archaeological site near the coast in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
A diver passes above Roman-era columns at an archaeological site near the coast in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
TT
TT

Tyre’s Ruins Survived the Strikes. Now Divers are Finding their Way Back Underwater

A diver passes above Roman-era columns at an archaeological site near the coast in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
A diver passes above Roman-era columns at an archaeological site near the coast in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

Beneath the Mediterranean waters off the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, divers swim past stone walls, ancient structures and a submerged road — remnants of parts of a city that once stood above the water.

With a shaky ceasefire in place after the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, visitors are returning to Tyre, a city known for its Roman ruins and its much older Phoenician history. Diving operators say interest in the underwater archaeological sites is increasing, though the number of visitors remains below prewar levels, The Associated Press said.

“The diving season is not like it used to be before, but the number of people coming to dive to see the ruins is increasing day by day,” said Yousef al-Jundi, manager of the Lebanon Diving Center.

The remains underwater are part of Tyre’s wider archaeological landscape. UNESCO says substantial archaeological remains of the ancient city are submerged, while underwater archaeological research has documented walls, harbor structures and other remains along the former island and coastline.

“This is the identity of this city, which tells us how old this city is and what its history is,” al-Jundi said. He said the underwater sites attract divers from around the world who want to see what is commonly described as Tyre’s “sunken city.”

Tyre was one of the major Phoenician maritime cities of antiquity, with trading networks that extended across the Mediterranean. The city was also famous for its purple dye and later became an important Greek and Roman center. Its archaeological remains were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1984.

The war raised concerns over the preservation of those remains, both on land and underwater.

“We were worried about the archaeological sites on land, which were affected by the war and the strikes, but at the same time we were also worried about the archaeological sites underwater, but thank God they were not affected,” al-Jundi said.

Before the ceasefire in late June, Tyre came under intense Israeli airstrikes, with neighborhoods in the coastal city heavily damaged during the fighting. UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee placed Tyre on its List of World Heritage in Danger in July 2026, citing the threat and damage caused by the ongoing hostilities.

Ali Badawi of Lebanon’s Directorate General of Antiquities said protecting the underwater sites remains a challenge.

“They’re not very well protected," Badawi said, adding that “encroachments” sometimes happen. “But we are trying very hard through surveys and research that we’re conducting, and we’re trying to develop laws to ensure their safety in the future.”

Badawi said the authorities also want to expand research and investment in underwater tourism, including the creation of underwater archaeological parks that would allow more visitors to see the sites.

The effort comes as Tyre seeks to rebuild its tourism sector after the war, while preserving archaeological remains that reflect thousands of years of the city’s history.

Culture

Historic Linah Marks Saudi National Day with Heritage Events, International Performances

Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia - SPA
Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia - SPA
TT
TT

Historic Linah Marks Saudi National Day with Heritage Events, International Performances

Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia - SPA
Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia - SPA

Historic Linah, located south of Rafha in Northern Borders Region, will celebrate Saudi National Day with a series of national and heritage events at the Historic Linah Market.

The program features performances by local and international artistic groups, along with a variety of artistic segments, solo musical performances, and equestrian and camel-riding displays, SPA reported.

The festivities will also include puppet shows, children’s competitions, and a musical evening showcasing traditional songs.

The Historic Linah Municipality has completed preparations across sites, parks, and roads, decorating streets with national flags and festive lighting to welcome visitors and create a celebratory atmosphere that reflects national pride.

Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia.

Once a key stop along ancient caravan routes, the town’s historic palaces and market continue to stand as enduring witnesses to the region’s collective memory.