Culture

Visitors Flock to Hira Cultural District for Immersive Islamic Heritage Experiences

Culture The district is among the key projects highlighting Makkah's cultural and civilizational dimension in line with Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA

Visitors Flock to Hira Cultural District for Immersive Islamic Heritage Experiences

The Hira Cultural District in Makkah is witnessing a growing influx of domestic and international visitors with the start of the summer vacation, cementing its…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The collection documents the evolution of civilizations. SPA

Saudi Arabia’s Rafha Heritage Museum Showcases over 3,000 Rare Coins, Currencies from World Civilizations

The cultural heritage museum in Rafha Governorate, licensed by the Saudi Museums Commission, houses a collection of more than 3,000 rare coins and currencies,…

Asharq Al Awsat (Rafha)
Culture  People look at the newly acquired Tomb of Francois, a 4th-century BC masterpiece bought last month by Italy's Culture Ministry for 15 million euros, at the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia in Rome, Italy, June 30, 2026. (Reuters)

Italy Displays Paintings from an Ancient Etruscan Tomb, Its Latest Cultural Acquisition

Italy on Tuesday put on display one of the best-known examples of Etruscan painting, panels from a tomb that it acquired for 15 million euros ($17 million) in…

Culture Historic maps of the Red Sea on display at the "Sunken Treasures: The Maritime Heritage of the Red Sea" exhibition. (SPA)

Sunken Treasures Exhibition Showcases Historic Maps of the Red Sea

Historic maps of the Red Sea on display at the "Sunken Treasures: The Maritime Heritage of the Red Sea" exhibition document the strategic importance of this…

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Culture Historic Jeddah offers immersive cultural experiences through interactive programs that combine learning with hands-on participation. (SPA)

Historic Jeddah Enriches Visitor Experience with Traditional Crafts and Cultural Activities

Historic Jeddah offers immersive cultural experiences through interactive programs that combine learning with hands-on participation, enabling visitors to…

Asharq Al Awsat

Culture A hand-embroidered map of historic Palestine with names of cities and the words “Palestine” and “Returning” in Arabic is displayed at the Inaash Association embroidery workshop in Beirut, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP)

How Some in Palestinian Diaspora Find Connection, Identity and Resilience in Traditional Embroidery

Decades later, Samar Kabouli still fondly recalls gathering with women in her family and sipping cardamom-spiced coffee as they embroidered fabric with…

Culture  Yodelers prepare for TV broadcast on the main festival stage at Petersplatz in Basel, Switzerland, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP)

Heat Forces Yodelers at Annual Swiss Festival to Sing in Fountains

City fountains became impromptu rehearsal spaces this weekend as yodelers at a festival in Basel, Switzerland, squeezed in last-minute practice while cooling…

Culture The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) logo

GASTAT: 75.3% of Saudi Arabia's Population Visited Cultural Event Venues in 2025

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) said that 75.3% of Saudi Arabia's population visited venues hosting cultural events or activities in 2025. The…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture 12th Saudi Film Festival Opens at Ithra with Broad International Participation

12th Saudi Film Festival Opens at Ithra with Broad International Participation

The 12th edition of the Saudi Film Festival has opened at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), an initiative of Saudi Aramco, bringing together…

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Culture Among the museum's highlights are Qibla indicators and magnetic compasses used to determine the direction of Makkah - SPA

Red Sea Museum Showcases Centuries of Islamic Maritime Navigation Heritage

The Red Sea Museum in Historic Jeddah showcases a rich legacy of Islamic maritime heritage through a collection of Qibla indicators, compasses, and sundials…

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Culture These heritage pieces showcase the exceptional craftsmanship of traditional leatherworking and illustrate the evolution of hunting equipment across successive generations - SPA

Majnad: Traditional Hunting Belt Preserves Saudi Arabia's Cultural Heritage

The Majnad, also known as the traditional leather hunting belt, is a heritage item closely associated with hunting expeditions and travel in Saudi Arabia,…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Mount Uhud, one of Madinah's most prominent landmarks and its largest mountain. (SPA)

What Historical Legacy Makes Mount Uhud One of Madinah’s Most Visited Landmarks?

Mount Uhud, one of Madinah's most prominent landmarks and its largest mountain, extends for approximately seven kilometers north of the Prophet's Mosque…

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Culture (FILES) A man holds a preserved artifact from the Cyrene archaeological site near the ancient historical town of Shahat in the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Libya on May 17, 2026. (Photo by Abdullah DOMA / AFP)

In East Libya, Archaeologists Fight to Save 'Breathtaking' Ancient Greek Ruins

In eastern Libya, a small group of passionate archaeologists are striving to safeguard the ancient ruins of Cyrene and Apollonia -- sites first targeted by…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Culinary Arts Commission Documents Saudi Food Heritage Through Global Ark of Taste Initiative

Culinary Arts Commission Documents Saudi Food Heritage Through Global Ark of Taste Initiative

The Culinary Arts Commission has registered 180 Saudi products representing the Kingdom's 13 administrative regions within the global Ark of Taste initiative,…

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Culture Historic Jeddah was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List after meeting three criteria of Outstanding Universal Value - SPA

Historic Jeddah Marks 12 Years on UNESCO World Heritage List

This June marks the 12th anniversary of Historic Jeddah's inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, reflecting the Ministry of Culture's continued efforts…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture  Moesgaard Museum archaeologist Liv Stidsing Reher-Langberg holds a Viking Age weight loom unearthed in Aarhus, Denmark, on June 22, 2026. (AP)

Archaeologists Find Huge Viking Textile Production Site in Denmark

Archaeologists have discovered a huge Viking Age textile production site in Denmark that dates back more than 1,000 years and underlines the sophistication of…

Culture Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Fahd Al-Dosari is seen during his visit to the museum. (SPA)

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Visits Ameen Rihani Museum

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Fahd Al-Dosari visited on Monday the Ameen Rihani Museum in the town of Freike in Matn District, reported the Saudi Press Agency. …

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Culture In Saudi Arabia, the relationship with camels extends beyond traditional heritage to form an integral part of national identity and collective memory. (SPA)

On World Camel Day, Saudi Arabia’s AlUla Celebrates Camel Heritage and Reinforces Its Cultural Identity

World Camel Day, observed annually on June 22, serves as a global occasion to reflect on the enduring relationship between humans and camels throughout history…

Culture These collections also include artifacts illustrating stages of the modern Saudi state, serving as educational platforms that bridge the past and present - SPA

Najran Sees Growing Interest in Heritage and Archaeological Artifact Collection

Najran Region has witnessed growing enthusiasm among community members and heritage enthusiasts for collecting traditional and archaeological artifacts that…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Located 250 kilometers southwest of Hail, this historic village boasts a legacy as rich as its soil - SPA

Why is Fadak Known as the 'City of Walls and Fortresses'?

Encircled by a massive, seven-kilometer wall of rugged black lava stone, the ancient village of Fadak, known today as Al-Hait, earned its title as the "City of…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Competitors take part in the Aberdeen Dragon Boat Race to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

Dragon Boat Festival Links Modern China to Traditions More Than 2,000 Years Old

The Dragon Boat Festival was celebrated Friday across mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan with colorful boat races, lion dances and other festivities. The…

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Culture This photograph taken on June 15, 2026, shows an original fragment of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's music handwritten notebook at Richelieu Library (Bibliotheque Nationale de France-National Library of France-BnF) in Paris. (Photo by Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP)

French Curator Unearths Rare Mozart Manuscript

Musicians this weekend will for the first time publicly interpret music for flute and harp that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote as a 22-year-old while teaching…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture This photo provided by Wessex Archaeology shows archaeologist Phil Harding standing at Stonehenge in May 2026, near Salisbury, England. (Wessex Archaeology via AP)

Archaeology Team Unearths 'Prototype' of World-famous Stonehenge Monument Just a Few Miles Away

Archaeologists revealed Thursday that they have discovered a structure near the prehistoric stone circle of Stonehenge in southern England that may have served…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
Culture The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities

Saudi Culture Ministry Launches Guide to Boost International Cultural Trade

The Ministry of Culture launched the guide to the international cultural trade journey in Saudi Arabia in a regulatory step aimed at enabling cultural exchange…

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Culture The participation reflects Saudi Arabia's growing presence in the global publishing industry and its efforts to strengthen cultural ties with China. (SPA)

Literature Commission Inaugurates Saudi Pavilion at Beijing International Book Fair 2026

Saudi Arabia’s Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission inaugurated on Wednesday the Kingdom’s pavilion at the Beijing International Book Fair 2026…

Culture This photograph shows visitors, seen from the Sully wing, queuing in the Cour Napoleon by the pyramid designed by Chinese-US architect Ieoh Ming Pei, to enter the Louvre Museum in Paris on November 19, 2025. (AFP)

Louvre Museum ‘Running Out of Steam’, Says New Director

The Louvre museum is struggling to find funding to upgrade its ageing facilities, its new director said Wednesday, following a litany of problems that included…

Culture  Visitors walk into the artwork "The Pont Neuf Cave" by French street artist JR on the Pont Neuf bridge, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Paris, open to the public from June 15 to 28. (AP)

Monumental Cave Art on Paris’ Oldest Bridge Finally Opens, as the Public Steps and Sniffs Inside

For weeks, a black mountain loomed over the Seine where Paris’ oldest bridge should have been. On Monday evening, its doors finally opened. Inside, Paris…

Culture  A first edition of Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights", is on display for sale at Christie's auction house in London, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP)

A Rare First Edition of ‘Wuthering Heights’ Complete with Spelling Mistakes Is up for Auction

A rare first-edition copy of “Wuthering Heights,” complete with spelling mistakes, is up for auction for the first time in more than a century, as Emily Brontë…

Culture Red Sea Film Foundation Extends 48-Hour Film Challenge Deadline to July 4

Red Sea Film Foundation Extends 48-Hour Film Challenge Deadline to July 4

The Red Sea Film Foundation has extended the application deadline for the sixth edition of the 48-Hour Film Challenge to July 4, 2026, allowing more young…

Asharq Al Awsat