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‘Ithra’ Wins King Salman Charter for Architecture, Urbanism Award

Ithra director Abdullah Al-Rashid said the achievement reflects ongoing efforts to design a building with a distinctive architectural identity - SPA
Ithra director Abdullah Al-Rashid said the achievement reflects ongoing efforts to design a building with a distinctive architectural identity - SPA
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‘Ithra’ Wins King Salman Charter for Architecture, Urbanism Award

Ithra director Abdullah Al-Rashid said the achievement reflects ongoing efforts to design a building with a distinctive architectural identity - SPA
Ithra director Abdullah Al-Rashid said the achievement reflects ongoing efforts to design a building with a distinctive architectural identity - SPA

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has won the King Salman Charter for Architecture and Urbanism Award in the “built projects” category during the award's inaugural ceremony, which was organized by the Architecture and Design Commission in Riyadh.
Ithra director Abdullah Al-Rashid said the achievement reflects ongoing efforts to design a building with a distinctive architectural identity that contributes to enriching the cultural life in the Kingdom, SPA reported.
He stated that the award-winning building is distinguished by its architectural design, which harmonizes with the local environment, using modern and sustainable construction materials.
The building was designed to be environmentally friendly by incorporating renewable energy technologies and highly efficient water management, Al-Rashid noted.
He also said that the award underscores the status of Ithra as a leading cultural institution, contributing to the enhancement of the Kingdom's architectural and cultural identity as well as continuing to offer an exceptional educational and cultural experience to visitors through this unique architectural building.

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Culture

Saudi Arabia: Craft Exhibition at Kidana Track in Makkah Draws over 32,000 Visitors

As part of the Year of Handicrafts 2025 and the Makkah winter season activities, the exhibition featured around 20 artisans. SPA
As part of the Year of Handicrafts 2025 and the Makkah winter season activities, the exhibition featured around 20 artisans. SPA
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Saudi Arabia: Craft Exhibition at Kidana Track in Makkah Draws over 32,000 Visitors

As part of the Year of Handicrafts 2025 and the Makkah winter season activities, the exhibition featured around 20 artisans. SPA
As part of the Year of Handicrafts 2025 and the Makkah winter season activities, the exhibition featured around 20 artisans. SPA

Kidana Development Company concluded its craft exhibition, held in cooperation with the Makkah Chamber at Kidana Track in Muzdalifah from December 17 to 20, where traditional crafts highlighting the authenticity of Saudi identity drew 32,362 visitors.

As part of the Year of Handicrafts 2025 and the Makkah winter season activities, the exhibition featured around 20 artisans showcasing handmade products such as embroidery, knitting, carving, and pottery.

It aimed to reinforce Saudi identity and promote traditional crafts as vital to cultural heritage, fostering values among community members and future generations.

The Kidana Track serves as a comprehensive destination for Makkah residents and visitors, offering various facilities, walking paths, seating areas, and community events promoting sustainability.

Culture

Malaysian Minister of Religious Affairs Visits Hira Cultural District in Makkah

The Hira Cultural District is regarded as a prominent heritage landmark. SPA
The Hira Cultural District is regarded as a prominent heritage landmark. SPA
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Malaysian Minister of Religious Affairs Visits Hira Cultural District in Makkah

The Hira Cultural District is regarded as a prominent heritage landmark. SPA
The Hira Cultural District is regarded as a prominent heritage landmark. SPA

Malaysian Minister of Religious Affairs Dr. Muhammad Naeem bin Mukhtar visited on Sunday the Hira Cultural District in Saudi Arabia’s Makkah.

During the visit, the Malaysian minister and his accompanying delegation toured the Revelation Gallery and the Museum of the Holy Quran.

Members of the delegation expressed admiration for the historical legacy presented through the use of the latest technologies, as well as for the valuable efforts and purposeful messages aimed at enriching the religious and cultural experience. They also praised the beauty of the cultural and intellectual heritage and the distinctive presentation methods.

The Hira Cultural District is regarded as a prominent heritage landmark and a major attraction for visitors arriving in Makkah from around the world.

Culture

AlUla Revives Tantora Ceremony as Annual Cultural Tradition

AlUla will celebrate the revival of the Tantora Ceremony on Monday in AlUla Old Town. (SPA)
AlUla will celebrate the revival of the Tantora Ceremony on Monday in AlUla Old Town. (SPA)
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AlUla Revives Tantora Ceremony as Annual Cultural Tradition

AlUla will celebrate the revival of the Tantora Ceremony on Monday in AlUla Old Town. (SPA)
AlUla will celebrate the revival of the Tantora Ceremony on Monday in AlUla Old Town. (SPA)

AlUla will celebrate the revival of the Tantora Ceremony on Monday in AlUla Old Town, one of the region’s most distinctive heritage markers and a defining element of its intangible cultural legacy.

The Tantora is a historic solar timekeeping device that generations of AlUla’s residents relied upon to mark the beginning of the agricultural season and the arrival of Al-Marba’aniyah, becoming an essential guide for daily life and seasonal farming cycles, said The Saudi Press Agency.

This year’s ceremony is part of the Royal Commission for AlUla's (RCU) ongoing efforts to elevate cultural heritage and strengthen its presence in the public realm. The program includes a rich array of cultural and heritage activities that highlight the historical significance of Tantora and its role in shaping the community's relationship with its oasis environment.

Visitors will enjoy traditional performances, artisan showcases, and interpretive sessions on the history and uses of the Tantora, alongside demonstrations that evoke aspects of AlUla’s past.

The ceremony reinforces awareness of this cultural marker as one of the region’s most notable expressions of intangible heritage. It also underscores its importance in understanding the seasonal practices that formed a central part of life in AlUla, particularly its connection to the onset of winter and the agricultural preparations associated with the peak of winter.

Reviving the Tantora Ceremony reflects RCU’s commitment to conserving heritage and reactivating it through contemporary approaches that strengthen cultural identity, foster community belonging, and connect new generations with AlUla’s historic legacy.

The event also enriches AlUla’s cultural and tourism offering by providing experiences that deepen visitor appreciation of Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage.

The RCU affirmed that celebrating this tradition demonstrates AlUla’s dedication to protecting its cultural and natural treasures and enhancing their role in sustainable development, fully aligned with AlUla’s long-term vision and the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which positions culture as a core pillar of quality of life and balanced national growth.