Culture

Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz Library to Launch 26th Free Reading Festival

Culture The King Abdulaziz Public Library. SPA

Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz Library to Launch 26th Free Reading Festival

The King Abdulaziz Public Library, in cooperation with the Riyadh Education Department, will launch its 26th annual Free Reading Festival for public school…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture The Monday market in the governorate of Uyun Al-Jiwa. (SPA)

Qassim's Monday Market Retains Heritage Role as Economic and Cultural Hub

The Monday market in the governorate of Uyun Al-Jiwa, north of Qassim Region, stands as one of the oldest traditional weekly markets, enduring through changing…

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Culture The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA

Heritage Commission Revives Al-Nasb Heritage District as Abha Cultural Tourism Destination

Al-Nasb Heritage District in Abha is one of the most prominent living examples of traditional architecture in Aseer Region, preserving its long history and…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The fines varied according to the nature and circumstances of each violation

Saudi Heritage Commission Enforces Strict Penalties Against Antiquities Violators

The Saudi Heritage Commission announced financial fines against 11 violators for dealing in portable antiquities without obtaining the required regulatory…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture Among the museum’s distinctive exhibits is a copy of the Quran engraved on brass plates dating back to the 12th century AH - SPA

Holy Quran Museum Showcases Rare 18th-Century Brass-Engraved Copy of the Quran

The Holy Quran Museum in the Hira Cultural District in Makkah offers a rich cultural and knowledge experience, enabling visitors to explore the history of the…

Asharq Al Awsat

Culture Franchisee Ahmad Badr serves a drink and treat sampler at Arwa Yemeni Coffee on April 6, 2026, in Sunnyvale, Calif. (AP)

Yemen Introduced the World to Coffee. Now, Its Coffeehouse Culture Is Booming in the US

Hundreds of years ago, Yemen helped introduce the world to coffee. Lately, the mountainous, war-ravaged country that borders Saudi Arabia and Oman is exporting…

Culture A prominent example is the private museum of Abdullah Al-Suhaibani, an expert with over 40 years of experience in gemstones and minerals - SPA

Private Museums Bolster Cultural Tourism in Qassim Region

Qassim Region is witnessing a significant rise in private museums, as individual collectors transform personal passions into vital cultural projects. These…

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Culture ‏The Saudi pavilion brings together a range of government entities and cultural institutions - SPA

Saudi Arabia Showcases Literary Diversity at 2026 Rabat International Book Fair

The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission launched the Saudi pavilion at the 2026 International Publishing and Book Fair in Rabat, which continues…

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Culture German artist Georg Baselitz attends the opening of his exhibition "The Heroes" (Die Helden) at the Staedel museum in Frankfurt, Germany June 29, 2016. (Reuters)

Georg Baselitz, the German Painter Who Turned Postwar Art Upside Down, Dies at 88

Georg Baselitz liked to insist — sometimes as a taunt, ‌sometimes as a shield — that he did not know how to paint. That he had "no talent". Rejected at…

Culture The event marked 100 years of Saudi-Russian bilateral relations. SPA

Saudi Arabia Holds Cultural Event in Moscow to Mark Centenary of Ties with Russia

The Saudi Ministry of Education, in cooperation with the Kingdom’s embassy in Russia, organized an academic and cultural event titled “A Century of Friendship…

Asharq Al Awsat (Moscow)
Culture Marine Sadania, a maritime archaeologist in charge of scientific and heritage management for the PACA Coastal Observatory, observes the “ROV C 4000,” a remotely operated vehicle manufactured by the French company LD Travocean and designed for seabed exploration,  during its launch aboard the Jason (BSAA), chartered for an archaeological mission on the wreck of the CAMARAT 4 off the coast of Ramatuel, in southeastern France on April 7, 2026. (Photo by Thibaud MORITZ / AFP)

Diving Robot Explores Mystery of France's Deepest Shipwreck

Deep below the surface of the Mediterranean off the French coast, the pincer of a remotely guided underwater robot delicately closes around a centuries-old jug…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture This photo taken on April 23, 2026 shows visitors under the Galeon Espiritu Santo, a full-scale representation of a 17th century galleon, on display at the Museo del Galeon in Manila. (Photo by Jam STA ROSA / AFP)

Philippine Museum Brings Deadly, Lucrative Galleon Trade to Life

A full-size replica of a Spanish galleon stares out into Manila Bay, the centerpiece of a museum that will transport visitors back to the 17th century, when…

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Culture The cultural event reflected the diversity of global heritage and promoted cultural and knowledge exchange among peoples. SPA

Over 90 Countries Participate in the 5th Edition of Peoples’ Heritage Festival in Saudi Arabia

The fifth edition of the Peoples’ Heritage Festival, organized by Qassim University at the King Khalid Cultural Center in Buraidah, witnesses broad…

Asharq Al Awsat (Buraidah)
Culture A Swedish flag flutters in front of residential houses in Stockholm, Sweden, September 14, 2023. (Reuters)

‘Unique’ 16th Century Wreck Found off Sweden

A 16th century shipwreck providing "unique historical and archaeological information" has been discovered off Sweden's southeastern coast, officials announced…

Culture Saudi Museums Commission Explores Tapline's Historical and Cultural Legacy

Saudi Museums Commission Explores Tapline's Historical and Cultural Legacy

Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission organized a virtual session as part of its monthly open-meeting series, during which it explored the historical and social…

Culture A view of the Pompeii Archeological Park, near Naples, southern Italy, on Dec. 14, 2022. (AP)

Archaeologists at Pompeii Use AI to Reveal the Face of One of the Victims

Archaeologists at the ancient Roman site of Pompeii have used artificial intelligence for the first time to digitally reconstruct the face of a victim of the…

Culture Saudi Visual Arts Commission's Bedayat Exhibition Attracts Over 13,000 Visitors

Saudi Visual Arts Commission's Bedayat Exhibition Attracts Over 13,000 Visitors

The “Bedayat: Beginnings of the Saudi Art Movement” exhibition highlighted the early development of the art movement in Saudi Arabia, showcasing the…

Asharq Al Awsat

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Culture Diriyah Company Awards $490 Million Construction Contract for Iconic Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art

Diriyah Company Awards $490 Million Construction Contract for Iconic Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art

Diriyah Company has awarded a $490 million construction contract for the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA), in Diriyah. The contract has been…

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Culture Prayer beads of various types have long been part of the tradition of acquiring Makkah souvenirs and gifts - SPA

Historic Jeddah Museum Highlights Rare Coral Prayer Beads of the Red Sea

Yusr prayer beads shine at the Red Sea Museum in Historic Jeddah as one of the top handicraft pieces, combining spiritual depth and aesthetic richness,…

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Culture The collection features diverse media, including rare black coral crafts and textiles that evoke underwater textures - SPA

Red Sea Museum Hosts Contemporary Art Exhibition to Showcase Marine Biodiversity

The Red Sea Museum in Historic Jeddah is hosting a contemporary artistic exhibition that explores the Red Sea’s marine richness by connecting its geological…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The fair is held under the theme "Book Path" and features 200 exhibitors. SPA

Saudi Pavilion Highlights Cultural Exchange at Sarajevo Book Fair

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, represented by the King Fahd Cultural Center in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is participating in Saudi Arabia’s…

Asharq Al Awsat (Sarajevo)
Culture 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…

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Culture The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities

Saudi Culture Ministry Announces 'A Necessary Fiction: Maps, Art, and Models of Our World' Exhibition in Venice

The Ministry of Culture announced "A Necessary Fiction: Maps, Art, and Models of Our World," a new exhibition at the Abbazia di San Gregorio in Venice on view…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Dacian gold items, a 2,500-year-old helmet and wristbands, stolen from a museum in the Netherlands and then recovered by Dutch authorities, are presented during a press conference after being returned, at the National Museum of Romanian History, in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

Priceless 2,500-year-old Golden Helmet Returned to Romania after Dutch Museum Raid

A priceless golden helmet dating back 2,500 years was returned to Romania on Tuesday after the national heirloom was stolen from a Dutch museum where it was on…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Saudi Heritage Commission Announces 2025 Excavation Results at Al-Serrain Archaeological Site

Saudi Heritage Commission Announces 2025 Excavation Results at Al-Serrain Archaeological Site

The Saudi Heritage Commission announced on Tuesday the results of the 2025 archaeological excavation season of the Saudi-Chinese mission at the Al-Serrain…

Culture  Mohammed Rashid, alias "Rambo", a kabootarbaaz (pigeon keeper) feeds his pigeons as he trains them, on the rooftop of a restaurant in the old quarters of Delhi, India, January 24, 2026. (Reuters)

Ancient Mughal Tradition of Pigeon-Rearing Thrives in India’s Capital

In the ‌heart of India's capital city New Delhi, a few men are practicing the ancient Mughal tradition of pigeon-rearing, training the birds to navigate…

Culture The manuscript, featuring a unique octagonal design and compact size, was written in India during the 19th century. (SPA)

Rare 19th-Century Octagonal Quran Goes on Display at Makkah’s Holy Quran Museum

The Holy Quran Museum in Makkah is showcasing a rare and unique historical Quran written in India during the 19th century, reported the Saudi Press Agency on…

Culture A general view shows the diner room of French brasserie Bouillon Chartier, on July 24, 2013, in Paris. (AFP)

How France Fell for Re-imagined 19th-Century Workers’ Canteens

So-called bouillon restaurants are mushrooming all over France, reviving a traditional low-cost Gallic meal concept that can compete with fast-food on prices…

Culture AlUla remains committed to the preservation of its archaeological sites and inscriptions through specialized restoration and rehabilitation projects - SPA

AlUla Marks World Heritage Day, Showcases Millennia of Human Civilization

AlUla Governorate is celebrating World Heritage Day, observed annually on April 18, by showcasing a historical legacy spanning thousands of years as a…

Asharq Al Awsat