Culture

Istanbul Cymbals: From Ottoman Weapon of War to Pulse of Global Music

Culture A worker hammers a cymbal at a workshop in Istanbul on July 30, 2026. (AFP)

Istanbul Cymbals: From Ottoman Weapon of War to Pulse of Global Music

The rhythmic clanging of hammers on bronze echoes through the Istanbul workshop where three craftsmen are landing blows with astonishing precision to transform…

Culture The Saudi Heritage Commission logo

Saudi Heritage Commission Expands National Urban Heritage Register with 9,586 New Sites

The Heritage Commission announced the registration of 9,586 urban heritage sites in the National Urban Heritage Register in two consecutive phases. The…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The program’s educational dimension extends to archaeology, the environment, and the protection of underwater cultural heritage - SPA

Red Sea Museum Transforms Learning into Experiences of Discovery and Creativity

The Red Sea Museum in Historic Jeddah takes visitors on a journey this August that goes beyond viewing its collections to engaging with the Red Sea as a space…

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Culture More than 1.3 million visitors attended the latest edition of the Riyadh International Book Fair. (Saudi Ministry of Culture)

Initiatives Make Saudi Cultures a Greater Part of Life in the Kingdom

Saudi Arabia’s cultural sector continues to expand, with the latest Ministry of Culture figures highlighting progress toward making culture a way of life…

Omar al-Badwi (Riyadh)
Culture Kusman runs his finger over a tablet engraved with the ancient Urartu language. Ozan KOSE / AFP

Self-taught Turkish 'Linguist' Keeps Dead Language Alive

Mehmet Kusman did not spend very long at school, but he traced the ancient inscriptions chiseled into the black basalt rock and read: "Before me there was…

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Culture  Saudi Minister of Culture Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al Saud

UNESCO AI Ethics Forum Highlights Saudi Arabia’s Global Standing, Culture Minister Says

Saudi Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan said Saudi…

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Culture The manuscript offers visitors a glimpse into the history of handwritten Qurans - SPA

Holy Quran Museum in Makkah Showcases 18th-Century Quranic Manuscript

The Holy Quran Museum in the Hira Cultural District in Makkah houses a Holy Quran manuscript dating to the 18th century. The manuscript reflects the…

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Culture This aerial view shows the Stromboli Island, part of the Aeolian archipelago off Sicily, on July 8, 2026. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)

Roman Wreck Carrying Hundreds of Amphorae Found Off Sicily

Italian divers have discovered the 2,100-year-old wreck of a Roman ship off Sicily, piled high with hundreds of well-preserved amphorae, which were likely used…

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Culture The Saudi Visual Arts Commission logo

Saudi Visual Arts Commission Releases 'Public Art: A Comprehensive Reference and Guiding Principles'

The Saudi Visual Arts Commission has announced the launch of Public Art: A Comprehensive Reference and Guiding Principles, available in both quick and full…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture Jazz in Jeddah will be held next October in Historic Jeddah

Saudi Music Commission Announces Strategic Partnership with 'Jazz in Jeddah' Platform

The Music Commission announced on Tuesday a strategic partnership with Jazz in Jeddah, organized by Call of Culture. The partnership builds on the…

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Culture Libraries Commission Launches Summer Reading Challenge 2026 for Children, Adolescents

Libraries Commission Launches Summer Reading Challenge 2026 for Children, Adolescents

The Libraries Commission has launched the summer reading challenge 2026 to encourage children and adolescents to read, foster a culture of reading, and develop…

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Culture The Red Sea Museum in Historic Jeddah strengthened its cultural outreach during July through a diverse program of workshops, panel discussions, and interactive activities. (SPA)

Red Sea Museum Brings Maritime Heritage to Life Through Interactive Cultural Experiences

The Red Sea Museum in Historic Jeddah strengthened its cultural outreach during July through a diverse program of workshops, panel discussions, and interactive…

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Culture The complex receives generous support from the Kingdom's leadership - SPA

King Fahd Complex Welcomes over 154,000 Visitors from 18 Countries in July

The King Fahd Glorious Quran Printing Complex in Madinah welcomed more than 154,000 visitors from 18 countries during July to learn about Saudi Arabia's…

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Culture The Saudi Heritage Commission logo

Saudi Heritage Commission Registers 1,173 New Archaeological Sites in National Antiquities Register

The Heritage Commission has registered 1,173 new archaeological sites in the National Antiquities Register, bringing the total number of registered sites…

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Culture Ongoing rehabilitation and heritage preservation efforts focus on maintaining Al-Ulaya's - SPA

Hail's Historical District Preserves 150 Years of Architectural Heritage

Al-Ulaya historical district in Hail stands as a key heritage landmark, preserving the city's architectural and social history spanning over 150 years. …

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Culture The King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh has acquired a rare 1829 copy of the first printed English translation of Ibn Battuta's travels - SPA

King Abdulaziz Public Library Unveils First English Translation of Ibn Battuta's Travels

The King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh has acquired a rare 1829 copy of the first printed English translation of Ibn Battuta's travels, a 294-page work by…

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Culture Clouds float in the sky above the Elektrozavod factory in Moscow, Russia, July 2, 2026. (Reuters)

Thousands Support Campaign to Save Soviet Industrial ‘Castle’ in Moscow

A campaign to save ‌a Soviet-era industrial landmark in Moscow from redevelopment has attracted thousands of supporters in an increasingly rare example of…

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Culture File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT

Japanese Embassy Hosts 'Al-Majlis Al-Yabani' in Riyadh to Strengthen Language and Cultural Ties

The Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has hosted “Al-Majlis Al-Yabani” (Japanese Speakers’ Gathering) at the ambassador’s residence in Riyadh…

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Culture The season's activities include sections for artisans and families working in the cottage industry - SPA

Madinah Dates Season Highlights Agricultural Heritage, Traditional Crafts, Supports Local Producers

Madinah Dates Season 2026 is witnessing notable visitor turnout as a platform bringing together date producers, artisans, and families working in the cottage…

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Culture The reserve features 14 distinct geographical formations - SPA

Archaeological Inscriptions at King Salman Royal Reserve Preserve Legacy of Ancient Civilizations

Archaeological inscriptions are living historical records carved into rock, bearing witness to ancient civilizations and providing clear insights into the…

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Culture Darah Launches Global Digital Access to Saudi Historical and Cultural Resources

Darah Launches Global Digital Access to Saudi Historical and Cultural Resources

The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) has made its digital platform accessible to users worldwide, enabling researchers and…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The Saudi Heritage Commission logo

Heritage Commission Records 55 Cultural Heritage Violations in Q2 2026

The Heritage Commission recorded 55 violations involving cultural heritage sites and artifacts across several regions of the Kingdom during the second quarter…

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Culture The center also completed the treatment and restoration of thousands of rare historical maps, including a map of the Arabian Peninsula originally dated 1771 - SPA

King Abdulaziz Public Library’s Restoration Center Preserves over 10,800 Heritage Collections

The Restoration Center at the King Abdulaziz Public Library has marked a milestone after restoring and treating 10,861 items from the library's collections,…

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Culture The project supports Saudi Vision 2030 targets to preserve national heritage. SPA

Saudi Heritage Commission Documents 180 Historic Landmarks in Riyadh's Urban Landscape

Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission, in cooperation with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and Riyadh Municipality, has completed the registration and coding…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture People walk past the former ZUS (Social Insurance Institution) building, a building on the Gdynia Modernism Trail, at the intersection of 10 Lutego Street and 3 Maja Street in Gdynia, Poland, July 25, 2026. (Reuters)

Gdynia, Poland’s Interwar Modernist Port City, Wins UNESCO Heritage Status

The center of the modernist Baltic ‌port city of Gdynia, built almost from scratch during the two decades between World War One and World War Two, was…

Culture This undated file picture provided by Japan's Jiji Press news agency on July 27, 2026 shows Japanese author Keigo Higashino in Tokyo. (Photo by JIJI Press / AFP)

Japanese Author Keigo Higashino Dies Aged 68

Japanese mystery fiction author Keigo Higashino has died aged 68, his publisher said on Monday. Higashino wrote more than 100 books after his debut in 1985…

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Culture Museums in Taif continue to enrich the Kingdom's cultural and tourism landscape. (SPA)

Taif Museums Offer Visitors a Journey Through Saudi Arabia's Heritage

Museums in Taif continue to enrich the Kingdom's cultural and tourism landscape by preserving national heritage and offering visitors immersive experiences…

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Culture Visitors stand at the Prionia trailhead on Mount Olympus in northern Greece, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

UNESCO Adds France's D-Day Landing Beaches, Greece's Mount Olympus to World Heritage List

World War II’s D-Day landing beaches in northern France, the iconic Mount Olympus in Greece and the ancient Japanese capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara were among…

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Culture  Children jump in the ocean in the former dhow port of Kalaweni, opposite the Grand Mosque, in Moroni's historic Medina on July 17, 2026. (AFP)

Six Ancient Comoros Medinas Join UNESCO's Heritage List

UNESCO on Saturday added six centuries-old medinas in the Comoros -- once historic sultanates along Indian Ocean trading routes -- to its World Heritage List,…