Culture

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

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

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…

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Culture 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)

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

Beneath the Mediterranean waters off the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, divers swim past stone walls, ancient structures and a submerged road — remnants of…

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

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

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…

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Culture  A person photographs Leonardo da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa at the Louvre museum, Aug. 31, 2025, in Paris. (AP)

Germans Arrested for Louvre Stunt in Mona Lisa Hall

Two Germans were arrested Saturday after they stuck two paintings on a wall of the hall that hosts the Mona Lisa in Paris's Louvre museum, police sources said…

Culture The agreement focuses on organizing a specialized symposium to exchange expertise on safeguarding policies, methodologies, and practices. SPA

Saudi Culture Ministry, ALECSO Sign Executive Program for Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Ministry of Culture has signed an executive program with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) to establish a…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)

Culture Archaeological coins discovered in AlUla Governorate offer material evidence of the region's vibrant economic history. (SPA)

Ancient Coins of AlUla Bear Witness to Centuries of Economic Prosperity

Archaeological coins discovered in AlUla Governorate offer material evidence of the region's vibrant economic history, documenting its role as a civilizational…

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Culture FILE PHOTO: Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, as seen from Metula in northern Israel, June 1, 2026. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo

UN to List West Bank, Lebanon Sites as 'in Danger'

The United Nations looks set to list a Biblical site, Lebanese castles, an antelope migration path and the world's deepest lake as world treasures under threat…

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Culture Snow patches remain on the upper slopes of Mount Olympus in northern Greece, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Mount Olympus, Home of Ancient Greek Gods, is a Candidate for UNESCO World Heritage List

Snow-capped for much of the year, Mount Olympus, mythological home of ancient Greece’s 12 Olympian gods, has captured the imagination through the millennia…

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Culture The meticulously crafted script begins with Surah Al-Fatihah at the top - SPA

Rare 19th-Century Panel Displayed at Red Sea Museum Features Complete Quranic Text

A rare 19th-century Quranic calligraphy panel is on display at the Red Sea Museum in Historic Jeddah. Created around 1859–1860 CE by Ghouth Mahboob Ghalib…

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Culture Palestinian curators working to restore ancient artifacts amid the ruins of war-devastated Gaza. (AFP)

Saving Gaza's Past, One Artifact at a Time

Armed with paintbrushes and wearing surgical gloves, volunteers inside a large tent in Gaza delicately brushed dust from a stone mosaic before placing it into…

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Culture Roman-era skulls and their facial reconstructions are on display at the Aquincum Museum's exhibition titled "Once we were like you" which showcases characters and the fictional life stories of those who once lived in the bustling Roman settlement of Aquincum, in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP)

Face-to-Face with Ancient Rome: Exhibition in Hungary Brings Forgotten Faces to Life

A blacksmith, a stable boy, a soldier, a slave: The faces and stories of these and other residents of an ancient Roman city in modern Hungary have been brought…

Culture The Ministry of Culture and the Cultural Development Fund signed a memorandum of understanding with SDAIA to explore joint AI programs serving the cultural sector. Photo: Ministry of Culture

AI-Powered Cultural Programs to Transform Saudi Arabia’s Creative Sector

Saudi Arabia is preparing to launch a new generation of AI-powered cultural initiatives aimed at reshaping innovation, boosting the efficiency of creative…

Omar al-Badwi (Riyadh)
Culture Riyadh is hosting the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Arts Hall Exhibition: Summer 2026, organized by the Misk Art Institute. (SPA)

Misk Art Institute Launches Summer Art Exhibition in Riyadh

Riyadh is hosting the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Arts Hall Exhibition: Summer 2026, organized by the Misk Art Institute—an affiliate of the Mohammed bin Salman…

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Culture Guatemala's Minister of Culture and Sports Luis Mendez speaks during a press conference on new findings in the decipherment of hieroglyphs on Maya murals at the Xultun archaeological site, at the National Palace of Culture in Guatemala City on July 13, 2026. (AFP)

Mayan Astronomer’s Name Deciphered from Ancient Ruins

Archaeologists have transcribed mural symbols from Mayan ruins to learn the name of an astronomer and mathematician from the ancient civilization for the first…

Culture Running for six weeks, the program includes specialized workshops - SPA

Jazan Cultural House Launches Summer Ceramics Camp to Nurture Artistic Talent

The Cultural House in Jazan Region is running a summer ceramics camp as part of its seasonal programs aimed at developing artistic skills and discovering…

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Culture Since the strategy's launch in early 2024, the sites have attracted more than 17.5 million visitors, with a satisfaction rate of 97.5% - SPA

Royal Commission for Makkah Draws 17.5 Million Visitors to Historical Sites

The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites is implementing an integrated strategy to conserve historical and enrichment sites and transform them into…

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Culture In recent years, Jazan has witnessed increased cultural activity through festivals, creative initiatives, and support for local talent, strengthening community participation and promoting heritage preservation - SPA

Jazan’s Performing Arts Preserve Heritage and Showcase Regional Identity

Jazan Region holds a distinguished place in Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape, shaped by its rich heritage and diverse traditions, which have enriched the…

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Culture Workers prepare to unload a specially designed crate (back L) carrying the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum in central London early on July 10, 2026. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP)

Bayeux Tapestry is at the British Museum after Secret Journey from France

After almost 1,000 years, the Bayeux Tapestry is back on English soil. In scenes like a heist movie in reverse, the priceless Medieval artwork was spirited…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
Culture This handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and France's President Emmanuel Macron inspecting repatriated Syrian artifacts that had been on loan to the Arab World Institute in Paris since 2010, during an official ceremony at the at the People's Palace in Damascus on July 7, 2026. (SANA/AFP)

France Returns 23 Syrian Treasures After 15 Years as Macron Visits Damascus

France has finally returned 23 Syrian archaeological treasures that remained in the country for about 15 years after being loaned for an exhibition. Their…

Culture The Red Sea Fund presented four awards within the Production Market at the Saudi Film Festival - SPA

Red Sea Film Foundation Concludes Participation in 12th Saudi Film Festival

The Red Sea Film Foundation won four awards for the three films supported by the Red Sea Fund during its participation in the 12th Saudi Film Festival, held at…

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Culture Tannis Davidson, Head of Zoology and Science collections at the Grant Museum of Zoology in London, holds a device displaying the temperature inside the display cases in the museum, in central London on June 26, 2026. (Photo by CARLOS JASSO / AFP)

UK Museums at 'Sharp End' of Climate Change Challenge

As visitors peered at skeletons and preserved animals in a London zoological museum during a UK heatwave, staff focused on a different attraction: a computer…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
Culture The glassworks tunnels have never before been open to the public. (Stourbridge Glass Museum)

British Town to Open its 250-Year-Old Underground Tunnels to Public

A West Midlands glassmaking museum is set to open its 250-year-old underground tunnels to the public for the first time. Stourbridge Glass Museum has…

Culture In this photo released by The Fine Arts Department, an archaeologist shows two rings with human bones during an ongoing dig at the Don Yai Thong archeological site in Phetchaburi province, Thailand Thursday, July 2, 2026. (The Fine Arts Department via AP)

Gold Rings Around 2,000 Years Old Found During Dig at Thailand Archaeological Site

Two gold rings aged around 2,000 years old were discovered during an excavation at a new archaeological site in western Thailand, officials said. The rings…

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Culture A rare historic clock is on display at the Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture in Makkah. (SPA)

Historic Clock at Two Holy Mosques Exhibition Reflects Timekeeping at Prophet's Mosque

A rare historic clock is on display at the Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture in Makkah, offering visitors a glimpse into the long history of care…

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Culture The collaboration seeks to enhance leadership and specialized capabilities and strengthen workforce readiness to meet future requirements. SPA

Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Development Fund Signs Global Partnership to Develop, Empower Emerging Talent

The Saudi Cultural Development Fund (CDF) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Fitch Learning, one of the world's leading professional…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture In this photo provided Saturday, July 4, 2026, by Ministery of Tourism and Antiquities, some of seven surface limestone-built tombs, discovered in the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site, are seen west of the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, Egypt. (Ministery of Tourism and Antiquities via AP)

Egypt Uncovers Lost Byzantine-era City in the Western Desert

A well-preserved Byzantine-era residential city in the western desert is one of two major archaeological finds announced by Egypt on Saturday. The recent…

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Culture Stewards check tourists QR code access outside the main train station in Venice, Italy, on April 25, 2024. (AP)

Venice Mayor Proposes Dynamic Pricing for Day-Trippers with 50-Euro Ceiling

Venice’s new mayor is proposing a dynamic pricing system for the city’s three-year-old day-tripper access fee, seeking government approval to raise the charge…

Culture Other key exhibits include diverse religious artifacts, works on the Prophet’s biography, and poems of praise - SPA

Historic Jeddah’s Red Sea Museum Showcases Rare Manuscripts from Ancient Hajj Sea Voyages

The Red Sea Museum in Historic Jeddah stands as a prominent testament to the historic relationship linking the Red Sea to maritime Hajj pilgrimages across the…

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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…

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