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…

Asharq Al Awsat
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…

Asharq Al Awsat
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…

Asharq Al Awsat
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 The Exhibition of the Architecture of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah is a cultural and educational platform that introduces visitors to the history of the Prophet’s Mosque. (SPA)

Architecture of the Prophet’s Mosque Exhibition Showcases Its Historical Development Across the Ages

The Exhibition of the Architecture of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah is a cultural and educational platform that introduces visitors to the history of the…

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Culture  In this photo provided by Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, recently unearthed ancient artifacts are displayed on May 31, 2026, in Ehnasiya district in Beni Suef, 130 kilometers (80 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt. (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities via AP)

Egypt Unveils a Striking Trove of Ancient Artifacts as the Country Tries to Boost Tourism Industry

Archaeologists unearthed a set of ancient artifacts in Egypt including Pharaonic funerary furniture, remains of a Roman basilica and a marble head of Aphrodite…

Culture Sue Tilley, a model for British painter Lucian Freud, speaks in front of Freud's painting of her, titled "Sleeping by the Lion Carpet" during an interview in Sotheby's auction house in London, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP)

Lucian Freud Sue Tilley Portrait Could Fetch $47 Million at Auction

A painting of Sue ‌Tilley, who found fame after artist Lucien Freud depicted her in the nude, will be auctioned next month with a price estimate of up to …

Culture "Šaltibarščiai" beetroot soup is prepared during the Pink Soup Fest 2026, an annual event celebrating the in Vilnius, Lithuania, on May 30, 2026. (AFP)

Festival Honoring Lithuania’s Iconic Cold Beet Soup Brings Thousands to Vilnius

A festival honoring Lithuania’s iconic cold beet soup brought tens of thousands of visitors Saturday to its capital city, which was fully decked out in pink. …

Culture The "Sunken Treasures: The Maritime Heritage of the Red Sea" exhibition at the Red Sea Museum in Historic Jeddah documents underwater archaeological discoveries off the Saudi coast. (SPA)

Sunken Treasures Exhibition Showcases Red Sea Maritime Heritage, Conservation Efforts

The "Sunken Treasures: The Maritime Heritage of the Red Sea" exhibition at the Red Sea Museum in Historic Jeddah documents underwater archaeological…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture A collection of archaeological finds and fragments of Chinese porcelain (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

Egypt Discovers Rare Reservoirs, Buildings at Ancient Aydhab Port in Halaib

Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced Thursday the discovery of massive water reservoirs and cisterns, along with rare buildings and service…

Fathiya al-Dakhakhni (Cairo)
Culture  Many Saudis say traditional dishes remain an essential part of Eid celebrations. (Ministry of Tourism)

Modern Dishes Challenge Traditional Eid al-Adha Breakfasts in Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, the smell of liver and muqalqal drifting from family kitchens on the morning of Eid al-Adha has long been part of the holiday ritual, closely…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Riyadh)
Culture United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio poses with his wife, Jeanette Rubio, during their visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, Monday, May 25, 2026. Pool via Reuters

As Iran Diplomacy Picks Up, Rubio Tours Taj Mahal

As diplomacy intensifies on ending the Iran war, top US diplomat Marco Rubio was spending Monday not in negotiations but at India's world-famous monument to…

Culture People walk along the Seine river next to "The Pont Neuf Cave," an inflated art installation by French street artist JR, on Paris' oldest bridge, the Pont Neuf, Thursday, May 21, 2026, which will be open to the public from June 6-28. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

French Artist Begins Giant ‘Cave’ Art Inflation Over Paris’ Oldest Bridge

The oldest bridge in Paris has begun to vanish this week, as the artist JR — who is known as the “French Banksy” — began inflating a giant “cave” over the Pont…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The 'Winston Churchill: The Painter' exhibition opens on Saturday at the Wallace Collection in London. Justin TALLIS / AFP

Winston Churchill's 'Playful' Paintings Go on Show in London

As Britain's wartime leader, Winston Churchill was known for his stirring speeches, but a new London exhibition explores another side to his creativity -- as a…

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Culture The Saudi Heritage Commission logo

Saudi Heritage Commission Discovers Abbasid-Era Gold Jewelry in Qassim

Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission announced the discovery of a collection of Abbasid-era gold jewelry at the archaeological site of Diriyyah in Qassim Region…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture The House of Islamic Arts in Jeddah marked International Museum Day 2026 with a special exhibition offering visitors a cultural journey into the past. (SPA)

Jeddah’s House of Islamic Arts Marks International Museum Day 2026

The House of Islamic Arts in Jeddah marked International Museum Day 2026 with a special exhibition offering visitors a cultural journey into the past. The…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture A number of private museum owners in Jazan stressed that these museums are no longer limited to preserving and displaying heritage collections - SPA

Private Museums in Jazan Offer a Window into the Region's Cultural Past

Private museums in Jazan Region are reintroducing local memory through a contemporary cultural vision by preserving collections and artifacts documenting…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture This artifact is part of the collection at the Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture - SPA

Rare Inscribed Marble Column Chronicles Grand Mosque Minaret's Construction

The Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture in Makkah showcases a rare marble column bearing an inscription documenting the construction of one of the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The Royal Commission for AlUla continues its efforts to protect and promote human heritage on a global scale, reinforcing AlUla’s position as a leading cultural destination. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s AlUla, the World’s Largest Living Museum, Marks Int'l Museum Day

Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is marking International Museum Day, observed annually on May 18, as part of its continued efforts to reinforce…

Culture From left, Elisabetta Magnanti, Mark Faulkner of Dublin's Trinity College, Andrea Cappa and Valentina Longo of Rome's National Central Library examine a manuscript containing a rare, long-lost copy of Caedmon's Hymn — the first poem ever written down in Old English — at Rome's National Library, Thursday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrea Rosa)

Medieval Book in Rome Has Been Hiding the Oldest English Poem

The researchers in Ireland looked at their computer screen, marveling at a medieval book tracked down in a Roman library. They flipped through its digitized…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Attendees included international investors, studios, production companies, and investment fund managers. SPA

Cultural Fund, Investment Ministry Promote Saudi Film Sector at Cannes Film Festival

The Cultural Development Fund, in partnership with the Ministry of Investment and Riviera Content Fund, organized a special event alongside the 79th Cannes…

Asharq Al Awsat (Cannes)
Culture The Kingdom's participation reflects the integration of national efforts in the cultural sector - SPA

Literature Commission Inaugurates Saudi Pavilion at Doha International Book Fair 2026

The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission inaugurated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's pavilion today at the Doha International Book Fair 2026, held…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The film highlights the commission’s efforts in research, documentation, and protection of the marine environment

Heritage Commission Releases Documentary on Saudi Underwater Heritage

The Heritage Commission in Jeddah launched a special screening of a documentary film that introduces underwater cultural heritage and highlights its importance…

Asharq Al Awsat (Jeddah)
Culture Red Sea International Film Festival Opens Early Registration for Sixth Edition

Red Sea International Film Festival Opens Early Registration for Sixth Edition

The Red Sea International Film Festival has announced the opening of early registration for its sixth edition, scheduled to take place in Historic Jeddah from…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Photo by SPA

King Abdulaziz Public Library Inaugurates Largest Specialized Children's Library

The King Abdulaziz Public Library today inaugurated the "Children's Library," the largest specialized children's library in Saudi Arabia, with notable…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The Saudi Heritage Commission logo

Heritage Commission Signs Agreement with Spain IE University in Cultural Heritage Fields

The Heritage Commission signed a cooperation agreement with IE University of Spain as part of its efforts to develop capacity-building programs in the cultural…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture AlUla Arts celebrates the participation of more than 20 Saudi and international artists at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. (SPA)

AlUla Arts Showcases More than 20 Artists at 61st Venice Biennale

AlUla Arts celebrates the participation of more than 20 Saudi and international artists whose artistic journeys have been connected to its programs at the 61st…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture  Visitors look at paintings by Ukrainian artists at the Art Kyiv 2026 Festival at the Art Ukraine Gallery in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP)

Ukrainians Seeking Cultural Escape from War’s Brutality Find Comfort and Resilience at Kyiv Art Fair

A contemporary art fair has been held in the Ukrainian capital with an unusual premise: that art can help a society come to terms with what war has made normal…