Culture

Sultan bin Abdulaziz Foundation Lauds Saudi Arabia, UNESCO on World Arabic Language Day Celebration

Culture Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud Foundation logo

Sultan bin Abdulaziz Foundation Lauds Saudi Arabia, UNESCO on World Arabic Language Day Celebration

Secretary General of Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud Foundation Prince Faisal bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz stressed that the World Arabic Language Day celebration,…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture The event was organized by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission at the Jeddah Superdome under the slogan "Jeddah Reads". (SPA)

Jeddah Book Fair Concludes

The Jeddah Book Fair came to a close on Saturday after 10 days during which it hosted more than 1,000 local, Arab, and international publishing houses and…

Culture In this photograph taken on October 19, 2024, vehicles ride past the Soona Mahal, a UNESCO-designated Art Deco apartment building along the Marine Drive seafront in Mumbai. (AFP)

India’s Architecture Fans Guard Mumbai’s Art Deco Past

A towering cinema with a roofline like an ocean liner stands out in India's financial capital Mumbai, part of a remarkable Art Deco architectural heritage that…

Culture A person holds up a smart phone as they wait for sunrise during the winter Solstice celebrations at Stonehenge, England, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anthony Upton)

Thousands Greet the Winter Solstice at the Ancient Stonehenge Monument

Thousands of tourists, pagans, druids and people simply yearning for the promise of spring marked the dawn of the shortest day of the year at the ancient…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture During the four years of fighting before Assad's forces recaptured Aleppo following a devastating siege, the city was virtually emptied - AFP

Syria's Aleppo Set for Revival Despite War Scars to its Heritage

The historic Baron Hotel in Syria's Aleppo is dilapidated and damaged by years of war but still standing and ready for a revival, much like the city itself. …

Asharq Al Awsat

Culture A man sits outside a stationary store with French signs in Dakar, Senegal, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (AP)

In Senegal, the Bastion of the Region’s Francophonie, French Is Giving Way to Local Languages

For decades Senegal, a former French colony in West Africa, has been touted as the bastion of the French language in the region. Leopold Sedar Senghor, the…

Culture The Saudi Ministry of Culture logo

GCC Culture Ministers Discuss Enhancing Cultural Cooperation

Saudi Assistant Minister of Culture Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Touq participated on Thursday in the 28th meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) culture ministers…

Asharq Al Awsat (Doha)
Culture The Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 logo

'Riyadh Reads French' Initiative Brings French Culture to Riyadh International Book Fair

The Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 featured the return of the "Riyadh Reads French" initiative, which was introduced the previous year and gathered…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture Saudi Culinary Arts Commission Signs New Partnership to Expand Global Presence

Saudi Culinary Arts Commission Signs New Partnership to Expand Global Presence

The Culinary Arts Commission has announced a strategic partnership with the international organization Sirha Food to enhance the presence of Saudi culinary…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Saudi Arabia Launches Intangible Cultural Heritage Documentation Project in Al-Ahsa

Saudi Arabia Launches Intangible Cultural Heritage Documentation Project in Al-Ahsa

The Saudi Ministry of Culture has launched an intangible cultural heritage documentation project in Al-Ahsa Governorate. The project is one of several the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Over ten days, the book fair events will adorn the Saudi capital (Literature Commission)

Alwan: Riyadh Int’l Book Fair is a Cultural Icon, Top Arab Book Seller

The Riyadh International Book Fair kicked off this year with over 2,000 local, Arab, and international publishers, offering a rich cultural program. The…

Omar al-Badwi (Riyadh)
Culture The torch, medals, and victory bouquet of the third edition of the Saudi Games will embody the visual identity of The Year of the Camel initiative. SPA

Saudi Games 2024 Celebrates 'Year of the Camel'

The organizing committee of the Saudi Games 2024 has announced a collaboration with the Ministry of Culture's "The Year of the Camel" initiative, aiming to…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture The Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 held a lecture on the role of camels in Arab history and culture. SPA

Riyadh Book Fair Hosts Lecture on Impact of Camels on Arab History, Culture

The Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 held a lecture on the role of camels in Arab history and culture, delivered by Turki bin Al-Ghanami, a member of the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture The meeting was chaired by Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani. SPA

Saudi Arabia, Qatar Seek to Boost Cultural Cooperation

The Culture, Tourism and Entertainment Committee of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council held on Monday its first meeting at the Riyadh International Book…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture The conference will bring together researchers and experts in archaeology and cultural heritage from around the world. SPa

AlUla World Archaeology Conference to Explore Challenges, Future of Nomadic Societies

The Royal Commission for AlUla will host a global archaeology conference addressing the future of archeology and the heritage of nomadic societies on October…

Asharq Al Awsat (AlUla)
Culture The Saudi Minister of Culture and the Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs have signed an MoU. SPA

Saudi, Kuwaiti Culture Ministers Sign MoU to Boost Cooperation

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud and Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture People take part in a world record attempt for the largest mass Haka at Eden Park in Auckland on September 29, 2024. (AFP)

New Zealand Reclaims Record for Largest Haka Dance

New Zealand has set the world record for the most people to perform a haka, a traditional dance of the country's indigenous Maori, reclaiming the title from…

Culture Riyadh International Book Fair activities draw growing number of visitors. (SPA)

Riyadh International Book Fair Activities Draw Growing Number of Visitors

The Riyadh International Book Fair continues to attract a large audience, solidifying its status as a key cultural event. Its diverse activities cater to…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture  Visitors attend an exhibition of model ships made by the Madagascar company Le Village and on display at the Homo Faber 2024 show in Venice, Italy, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.(AP)

Model Makers in Madagascar Are Bringing History’s Long-Lost Ships Back to Life

A French trading ship that sank in the 17th century with treasure onboard is being brought back to life in a workshop in Madagascar with every stroke of Rafah…

Culture Achaemenid-era clay tablets returned from the United States and on display at Iran's National Museum in Tehran on October 2, 2019 - AFP

US Returns to Iran Latest Batch of Ancient Clay Tablets

The United States has returned to Iran more than 1,000 clay tablets dating from the Achaemenid-era, official media said, reporting the sixth such handover of…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The exhibition draws fascinating parallels between Arab and Chinese traditions. SPA

Saudi Museums Commission Showcases Chinese Contemporary Art for 1st Time in Saudi Arabia

The Museums Commission inaugurated on Thursday the exhibition "The Writings of Today Are a Promise for Tomorrow" at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diriyah, DAF seeks to establish Riyadh as a global capital of New Media Art. SPA

Diriyah Art Futures Launches Emerging New Media Artists Program

Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), a pioneering new media arts center in Saudi Arabia, has announced the 12 successful applicants to its inaugural Emerging New Media…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture A visitor looks closely at 'Les canots amarres' by Vincent van Gogh at Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. Peter PARKS / AFP

Van Gogh Painting Falls Short of Expectations in Hong Kong Auction

A Vincent van Gogh painting displaying the artist's shift from dark realism to vibrant impressionism sold for US$32.2 million at a Hong Kong auction on…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) logo

OIC, King Salman Arabic Academy Hold Symposium on 'Culture of Islamic Peoples'

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) General Secretariat, represented by the Department of Cultural Affairs, will hold a virtual symposium Thursday…

Asharq Al Awsat (Jeddah)
Culture The motto aims to emphasize the importance of reading in enhancing the quality of life and broadening the intellectual and cultural horizons of readers

'Riyadh Reads' is the Motto of Riyadh International Book Fair 2024

The Saudi Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission has announced the motto for the Riyadh International Book Fair (RIBF) as "Riyadh Reads." The fair…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture The MoU aims to enhance cooperation in promoting the Arabic language. SPA

King Salman Academy for Arabic Signs MoU with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday in Almaty with Al-Farabi Kazakh National…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture People walk in front of the British Museum in London, Britain, on September 28, 2023. (Reuters)

British Museum Explores ‘Silk Roads’ Trade Routes in New Exhibition

A new exhibition exploring the vast network of the Silk Road trade routes opens at the British Museum in London this week. Showcasing a range of artifacts…

Culture Saudi Arabia Unveils Special Passport Stamp to Celebrate National Day

Saudi Arabia Unveils Special Passport Stamp to Celebrate National Day

The Saudi Ministry of Interior, through the General Directorate of Passports, has unveiled a special stamp to commemorate the Kingdom’s National Day,…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture  A construction worker unveils recovered pieces from the Great Mosque of Tinmel, which dates back to the 12th century and suffered significant damage during a 2023 earthquake, in the Atlas mountain village of Tinmel, outside of Marrakech, Morocco, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP)

Brick by Brick, Morocco Rebuilds 12th-Century Mosque Destroyed by 2023 Earthquake

The hand-carved domes and brick-laid arches had almost all been put back together when an earthquake shook Morocco so violently that they caved in on…