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Many Join Saudi Online Platform to Teach Arabic Calligraphy

Alkhattat Platform courses allow Arabic calligraphers to excel and cultivate their creativity
Alkhattat Platform courses allow Arabic calligraphers to excel and cultivate their creativity
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Many Join Saudi Online Platform to Teach Arabic Calligraphy

Alkhattat Platform courses allow Arabic calligraphers to excel and cultivate their creativity
Alkhattat Platform courses allow Arabic calligraphers to excel and cultivate their creativity

The Ministry of Culture announced its launch of the first electronic platform to teach Arabic calligraphy and Islamic decoration, with support from the Quality of Life Program, one of the programs of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, under the title “Alkhattat Platform” (Calligrapher Platform).

The electronic platform will be supervised by a group of professional calligraphers from the Kingdom and the Arab world. Through the platform, they will teach the basics of Arabic calligraphy, its arts, and methods via training courses, projects, and professional workshops.

Nasser Maymoun, a prominent Saudi calligrapher, praised the initiative put forth by the culture ministry especially after Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan having announced that 2020 would be designated as the “Year of Arabic Calligraphy.”

Maymoun said that it is a great start to presenting the work of Arabic calligraphers and it is part of promoting Islamic and Arabic heritage.

The platform offers various training courses, including professional courses in the types of Arabic calligraphy, explanation of the alphabets and how to combine them, writing the words and expressions, improving handwriting, training in making calligraphic paintings and artwork in Arabic calligraphy, letter formations, gilding, Islamic decoration, drawing and coloring, the art of paper marbling and Ebru (needle art).

The platform will also give the trainee the opportunity to develop Arabic computer fonts by learning designs and programming fonts.

Alkhattat Platform founder Mohammed Al-Sharqawi told Asharq Al-Awsat that it was important to keep up with technological advances.

Sharqawi revealed that, due to the coronavirus, the Year of Arabic Calligraphy was extended until 2021.

He added that the platform first launched in 2018 and has over 19,000 users from 30 different countries around the world. Top tier calligraphers have joined the platform and were selected to teach.

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Drought Depletes Türkiye's Tekirdag Reservoirs, Forcing Emergency Water Curbs 

Gauges to measure water levels stand on dry terrain near the low waters of Naip Dam, as drought conditions continue to affect water levels, in Suleymanpasa, in the northwestern Tekirdag province, Türkiye, August 11, 2025. (Reuters)
Gauges to measure water levels stand on dry terrain near the low waters of Naip Dam, as drought conditions continue to affect water levels, in Suleymanpasa, in the northwestern Tekirdag province, Türkiye, August 11, 2025. (Reuters)
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Drought Depletes Türkiye's Tekirdag Reservoirs, Forcing Emergency Water Curbs 

Gauges to measure water levels stand on dry terrain near the low waters of Naip Dam, as drought conditions continue to affect water levels, in Suleymanpasa, in the northwestern Tekirdag province, Türkiye, August 11, 2025. (Reuters)
Gauges to measure water levels stand on dry terrain near the low waters of Naip Dam, as drought conditions continue to affect water levels, in Suleymanpasa, in the northwestern Tekirdag province, Türkiye, August 11, 2025. (Reuters)

A drought in Türkiye's northwestern province of Tekirdag has left the area's main dams without potable water, straining infrastructure and leaving some homes without water for weeks, due to a sharp drop in precipitation in the country this year.

Authorities say drought is a critical issue, with several provinces warning of limited fresh water supply this summer.

Various areas in Izmir, Türkiye's third-most populous province, have experienced frequent water cuts this month, while the municipality in the western province of Usak was told over the weekend it would have access to water just six hours a day, with the main water reservoir depleted.

Rainfall slumped 71% in July across the country from a year ago, according to Türkiye's Meteorological Service. In the Marmara region, which includes Tekirdag and Istanbul, it shrank 95% below the monthly norm in July.

In the ten months to August, precipitation sank 32% in Marmara compared to the norm, while it fell 26% across Türkiye to the lowest in 52 years.

ALTERNATIVES

The water level in Tekirdag's Naip Dam, which has not seen any rainfall in June and July, fell to zero percent in August.

That has forced authorities to find alternatives like delivering irrigation water for domestic use and building a pump system for delivery into urban areas.

The dam's water level was 21% this time last year, according to the State Hydraulic Works.

Mehmet Ali Sismanlar, head of Tekirdag's Water and Sewerage Administration (TESKI), said rainfall in Tekirdag has reduced dramatically over the past decade, and severe drought over the last two years has spurred frequent water cuts in some areas this summer.

"We are the area and the province that has been affected the most by the drought in Türkiye," he said, attributing it to climate change.

The water in Turkmenli dam, usually used for irrigation, was used to supply water to Tekirdag's Marmaraereglisi district, where some neighborhoods faced water cuts.

TESKI was working to open new wells to use ground water, not usually a preferred measure, Sismanlar said. He said ground water had sunk to twice its original depth over the years.

Mehmet, 70, a resident who lives in the Dereagzi neighborhood with his family, said their home has had no water for two months, leaving them unable to shower or perform chores, and they were fetching water from nearby areas in large bottles.

"I have been living in filth for the past two months," he said, standing among dirty piles of dishes in the kitchen, and adding that he last showered when he went to Istanbul, around 130 kilometers (81 miles) away.

His wife, Fatma, 65, said the family stayed up at night to fill up bottles in case water supply is resumed.

Remzi Karabas, 71, said he takes his laundry to Istanbul to be washed, but was done with living in Tekirdag.

"We'll leave some day soon. What can we do here? Water does not flow at all."