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‘Al-Ayniya’, ‘Souq Suwaiqah’ : Historic Market Nurturing Creatives in Madinah

Souq Suwaiqah is one of the ancient markets that gained importance due to its proximity to the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia (SPA)
Souq Suwaiqah is one of the ancient markets that gained importance due to its proximity to the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia (SPA)
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‘Al-Ayniya’, ‘Souq Suwaiqah’ : Historic Market Nurturing Creatives in Madinah

Souq Suwaiqah is one of the ancient markets that gained importance due to its proximity to the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia (SPA)
Souq Suwaiqah is one of the ancient markets that gained importance due to its proximity to the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia (SPA)

A once-historic market lay dormant for years after a fire destroyed most of it. Now, it's a thriving creative hub in Medina. This place, once reduced to ashes, has risen again, supporting artisans in crafting and selling handmade products and souvenirs.

Recently renovated, Al-Ayniya Workshops and Souq Suwaiqah now offer modern facilities to train, produce, and market crafts.

This initiative by the “Nimaa Al Madinah” foundation aims to boost economic and social development by empowering entrepreneurs through training and marketing support.

Souq Suwaiqah holds great historical significance in Medina, particularly due to its location near the Prophet’s Mosque. It has been a bustling hub for traders and shoppers, especially during religious seasons.

The market is famous for its fabric trade, along with selling gold, perfumes, and other goods.

However, in 1397 AH, a massive fire destroyed everything in the market, causing extensive damage to nearby residential areas. This tragic event silenced the once lively market, leaving a lasting memory in the city’s history, spanning over 430 years.

Lately, the old market has come back to life thanks to the Al-Ayniya and Souq Suwaiqah project. This effort includes workshops for crafts and shops with a traditional exterior.

Their products, bearing a Medina style, are popular among visitors to the city’s market, who choose them as gifts and souvenirs.

The project aims to revive the spirit of ancient markets while blending modernity with historical charm.

Led by the Nimaa Al Madinah foundation, it encourages entrepreneurship to enrich religious and cultural experiences and support Saudi Vision 2030 goals. The initiative trains and supports entrepreneurs and families, empowering them to create gifts and souvenirs for visitors to Medina.

Support for entrepreneurs, especially women, has been successful in the handmade and craft products sector.

Over three years, 3,000 women have graduated from training workshops, with about 900 empowered.

These workshops cover various crafts, and products are sold at the modern Souq Suwaiqah outlets, which pay homage to Medina’s historical markets.

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Culture

Saudi Arabia, Syria Underline Depth of their Cultural Ties

Syrian President al-Sharaa receives the Saudi minister of culture and the accompanying delegation at the Conference Palace in Damascus on Thursday. (SPA)
Syrian President al-Sharaa receives the Saudi minister of culture and the accompanying delegation at the Conference Palace in Damascus on Thursday. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Syria Underline Depth of their Cultural Ties

Syrian President al-Sharaa receives the Saudi minister of culture and the accompanying delegation at the Conference Palace in Damascus on Thursday. (SPA)
Syrian President al-Sharaa receives the Saudi minister of culture and the accompanying delegation at the Conference Palace in Damascus on Thursday. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia and Syria underlined the strength of their cultural relationship during high-level meetings held in Damascus on Thursday, on the sidelines of the opening of the Damascus International Book Fair 2026, where the Kingdom is participating as guest of honor.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa received Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan at the Conference Palace in the capital.

Earlier the same day, Prince Badr met with his Syrian counterpart, Minister of Culture Mohammad Yassin Saleh, during an official visit to attend the fair. T

he Saudi minister congratulated Syria on hosting the exhibition and expressed his wishes for continued prosperity, progress, and stability for the Syrian government and people.

Both meetings highlighted the depth of cultural relations between the two countries, the importance of expanding joint cultural cooperation across various fields, and the alignment of positions on issues of mutual interest in a way that serves both nations.

The Saudi delegation included senior officials and advisers, among them representatives from the Royal Court, the Ministry of Culture, and the King Abdulaziz Public Library, reflecting broad institutional engagement in the visit.

In the evening, Prince Badr attended the opening ceremony of the fair’s special session, held under the patronage and in the presence of al-Sharaa. The event drew wide official and cultural participation, including Arab ministers, political and intellectual figures, and a distinguished group of writers and cultural figures.

In a post on the X platform, Prince Badr thanked “our brothers in Syria for their generous hospitality and their efforts in organizing the Damascus International Book Fair.”

The minister also inaugurated the Kingdom’s pavilion at the fair in the presence of the Syrian minister of culture and the Qatari minister of culture.

Saudi Arabia’s guest-of-honor participation continues until Feb. 16 and reflects its growing prominence and leadership in the Arab and global cultural landscape.

This participation aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which places culture at the heart of national development, viewing it as a space for dialogue, a bridge for civilizational communication, and a tool for strengthening ties among Arab peoples.

The Saudi Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission is leading the Kingdom’s participation, highlighting the development of the cultural sector and reaffirming the central role of books as carriers of knowledge and awareness.

The Saudi pavilion boasts a comprehensive cultural program featuring intellectual seminars, poetry evenings, a manuscript exhibition, traditional Saudi fashion displays, hospitality corners, archaeological replicas, and performing arts that express the depth of the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.

On the sidelines of the visit, Prince Badr, accompanied by Minister Saleh, toured the National Museum of Damascus, which houses rare artifacts spanning prehistoric eras, ancient Syrian civilizations, classical and Islamic periods, as well as traditional and modern art.

Culture

UNESCO Honors Al-Bisht Al-Hasawi as Thousands Flock to Al-Ahsa Festival

Visitors can explore interactive displays, participate in live workshops, and witness the meticulous process of tailoring this iconic symbol of prestige - SPA
Visitors can explore interactive displays, participate in live workshops, and witness the meticulous process of tailoring this iconic symbol of prestige - SPA
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UNESCO Honors Al-Bisht Al-Hasawi as Thousands Flock to Al-Ahsa Festival

Visitors can explore interactive displays, participate in live workshops, and witness the meticulous process of tailoring this iconic symbol of prestige - SPA
Visitors can explore interactive displays, participate in live workshops, and witness the meticulous process of tailoring this iconic symbol of prestige - SPA

The third edition of Al-Bisht Al-Hasawi Festival is drawing thousands of regional and international visitors to Ibrahim Palace in historic Al-Hofuf.

Organized by the Heritage Commission, this year’s festival celebrates the inscription of the Bisht on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The event showcases Al-Ahsa’s centuries-old tradition of hand-weaving and gold embroidery, a craft passed down through generations of local families, SPA reported.

Visitors can explore interactive displays, participate in live workshops, and witness the meticulous process of tailoring this iconic symbol of prestige.

With UNESCO's participation and representatives from six countries, the festival has evolved into a global platform for cultural dialogue, cementing the Bisht’s status as a world-class cultural treasure.

Culture

Saudi, Syrian Culture Ministers Tour National Museum of Damascus

The ministers observed the museum’s extensive collections spanning prehistoric eras to modern art. SPA
The ministers observed the museum’s extensive collections spanning prehistoric eras to modern art. SPA
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Saudi, Syrian Culture Ministers Tour National Museum of Damascus

The ministers observed the museum’s extensive collections spanning prehistoric eras to modern art. SPA
The ministers observed the museum’s extensive collections spanning prehistoric eras to modern art. SPA

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and his Syrian counterpart, Mohammed Yassin Saleh, have toured the National Museum of Damascus during the Kingdom’s participation as guest of honor at the 2026 Damascus International Book Fair.

The ministers observed on Thursday the museum’s extensive collections spanning prehistoric eras to modern art.

A particular focus was placed on the Arab-Islamic wing, featuring significant artifacts from the Umayyad period.

The Kingdom's participation as guest of honor at the 2026 Damascus International Book Fair, which runs until February 16, stems from the role culture plays within Saudi Vision 2030.