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…

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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 The Saudi flag flies in the sky of Tabuk marking the Kingdom’s 94th National Day - SPA

Saudi Flag Flies in the Sky of Tabuk in Celebration of the 94th National Day

The Saudi flag is flying 75 meters high in the sky of Tabuk, celebrating the Kingdom’s 94th National Day. Located in Al-Tawheed square on King Fahd Road, in…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Riyadh to Host International Conference on Arabic Language Computing

The King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language will hold its third international conference in Riyadh from October 6 to 7. Tackling "Arabic language…

Culture “Porcelaine Cube” by artist Ai Weiwei is pictured after being destroyed by a man during the opening exhibition, in Bologna, Italy, September 20, 2024. (Genus Bononiae Press Office/Handout via Reuters)

Man Smashes AI Weiwei Sculpture at Italy Art Show Opening

A man shattered a sculpture by Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei on Friday during the opening of his exhibition at Palazzo Fava in the Italian city of…

Culture  A security personnel stands next to a painting titled "Nympheas" (water lilies) by artist Claude Monet during the inaugural sale at Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong, China September 19, 2024. (Reuters)

Christie’s Expands Hong Kong Footprint in Hope of Art Market ‘Pickup’

Auction house Christie's opened its regional headquarters in Hong Kong on Friday as its Asia Pacific chief predicted a sales "pickup" despite a global art…

Culture Dr. Jasir Al-Harbash, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission. (Turky al-Agili)

Saudi Arabia Hopes to Add More Sites to UNESCO World Heritage List

After successfully adding the Al-Faw region to UNESCO's World Heritage list, Saudi Arabia is now aiming to register more sites to showcase their historical…

Omar al-Badwi (Riyadh)
Culture Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman approves the adoption of the non-profit King Salman Foundation’s bylaws.

King Salman Launches Non-Profit Foundation to Invest in Human Development

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, in a royal decree on Thursday, approved the adoption of the non-profit King Salman Foundation’s bylaws. The…

Omar al-Badwi (Riyadh)
Culture  Canadian Cultural Heritage Deputy Minister Isabelle Mondou unveils Yousuf Karsh's "Roaring Lion" portrait of Churchill, stolen in 2022 from Ottawa’s Fairmont Chateau Laurier and recovered in Italy, during a ceremony at the Canadian Embassy in Rome, Italy, September 19, 2024. (Reuters)

‘Roaring Lion’ Churchill Portrait Retrieved from Italy after Canada Theft

Italy handed back to Canada on Thursday a famous photographic portrait of Winston Churchill that was stolen from an Ottawa hotel more than two years ago and…

Culture Nassif House is open daily with two visiting slots: 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm, offering both morning and evening visits. - SPA

Jeddah Historic District Program Unveils New Archaeological Finds at Heritage Nassif House

The Ministry of Culture's Jeddah Historic District Program is currently showcasing a plethora of archaeological discoveries at the heritage Nassif House,…

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Culture The museum will welcome visitors from September 21 to 23, from 4:30 pm to 11 pm (SPA)

Royal Saudi Air Force Museum Hosts National Day Celebration

To commemorate Saudi Arabia's 94th National Day, the Royal Saudi Air Force Museum (Saqr Al-Jazeera Aviation Museum) is hosting a three-day event filled with…

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Culture The project’s results yielded valuable discoveries on the presence of humans in the region for thousands of years (SPA).

Green Arabian Peninsula Project Continues to Uncover Insights into Ancient Human Settlements in Saudi Arabia

The Green Arabian Peninsula Project, which was launched in 2010, continues its efforts to study the impact of successive climatic changes on the Arabian…

Omar al-Badawi (Riyadh)
Culture The Ministry of Culture logo

Saudi Culture Minister Lauds Cabinet for Naming 2025 the 'Year of Handicrafts'

Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan has commended the Cabinet's decision to declare 2025 the "Year of Handicrafts,” acknowledging the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture QSAS will enrich the cultural landscape by developing interactive and creative cultural, historical, and heritage storytelling experiences.

PIF Establishes Company for Immersive Experiences Inspired by Saudi Heritage

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced on Wednesday the establishment of the National Interactive Entertainment Company (QSAS) to create immersive…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture A special installation work for the artist Ahmed Mater commissioned by Wadi AlFann in AlUla. (Christie's)

Christie’s Launches First International Auction House in Saudi Arabia

Christie’s auction house announced the appointment of Nour Kelani as General Manager in Saudi Arabia, tasked with overseeing services for local clients. This…

Eman Al-Khattaf (Al-Dammam)
Culture The Saudi Ministry of Culture logo

Saudi Culture Ministry, King Salman Academy Organize Learning Arabic Language Hackathon

The Saudi Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL), is organizing the "Learning and Embracing the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum reviewed the cultural district project. WAM

Mohammed bin Rashid Reviews Cultural District Project in Dubai South

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, reviewed the cultural district project, located within…

Asharq Al Awsat (Dubai)
Culture Preparations Underway for Riyadh International Book Fair

Preparations Underway for Riyadh International Book Fair

Saudi Arabia's Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission continues to prepare to hold this year's Riyadh International Book Fair, scheduled to take…

Culture Sanuki Kagari Temari balls are in a gift box in Eiko Araki's studio in Kawaramachi, Kagawa prefecture, Japan, on Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama) 

Dedicated Artists Are Keeping Japan’s Ancient Craft of Temari Alive 

Time seems to stop here. Women sit in a small circle, quietly, painstakingly stitching patterns on balls the size of an orange, a stitch at a time. At the…

Culture Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu Celebrates National Day with Diverse Events

Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu Celebrates National Day with Diverse Events

The Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY) is holding a series of events and competitions in Jubail and Yanbu industrial cities to mark Saudi Arabia's…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The winning scripts may be made into movies by GEA

Writers Invited to Submit Works, Compete for Saudi Arabia’s Golden Pen Award

Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Turki bin Abdulmohsen Alalshikh has announced that Arabic-speaking writers may start…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture This year's forum focuses on the power of art to transform abstract ideas into tangible reality. SPA

6th Int’l Video Art Forum in Dammam to Celebrate Power of Art

The sixth edition of the International Video Art Forum, organized by the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts in Dammam, in collaboration with the Cinema…

Asharq Al Awsat (Dammam)
Culture Darah Releases Updated Guide on History of Saudi Arabia to Mark 94th National Day

Darah Releases Updated Guide on History of Saudi Arabia to Mark 94th National Day

The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) released an updated version of its guide on the history of Saudi National Day. This is part of…

Culture KAPSARC, KSGAAL Launch 3rd Edition of KAPSARC Arabic Award

KAPSARC, KSGAAL Launch 3rd Edition of KAPSARC Arabic Award

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), in partnership with the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL),…

Culture Lebanese prominent writer and intellectual Elias Khoury speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at his office in the Institute for Palestine Studies in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Aug. 8, 2014. (AP)

Leading Lebanese Novelist Elias Khoury Dies at 76

Lebanese novelist Elias Khoury who dedicated much of his writings to the Palestinian cause and taught at universities around the world, making him one of…

Culture FILE - Schoolchildren perform at a ceremony marking Belarus' holiday honoring the state flag and emblem in Minsk, Belarus, on May 13, 2012. (AP Photo, File)

In Belarus, the Native Language is Vanishing as Russian Takes Prominence

When school started this year for Mikalay in Belarus, the 15-year-old discovered that his teachers and administrators no longer called him by that name…

Asharq Al Awsat