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…

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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 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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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