عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

SDRPY Implements Restoration of Historic Seiyun Palace in Hadhramaut

Seiyun Palace is a unique architectural masterpiece that gracefully embodies the authenticity of Yemeni architectural design - SPA
Seiyun Palace is a unique architectural masterpiece that gracefully embodies the authenticity of Yemeni architectural design - SPA
TT
TT

SDRPY Implements Restoration of Historic Seiyun Palace in Hadhramaut

Seiyun Palace is a unique architectural masterpiece that gracefully embodies the authenticity of Yemeni architectural design - SPA
Seiyun Palace is a unique architectural masterpiece that gracefully embodies the authenticity of Yemeni architectural design - SPA

After years of deterioration that threatened its survival as a historical symbol, Seiyun Palace in Hadhramaut, eastern Yemen, is regaining its original splendor through comprehensive restoration work led by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) to breathe new life into this prominent cultural landmark.

Seiyun Palace is a unique architectural masterpiece that gracefully embodies the authenticity of Yemeni architectural design. It has earned a distinguished symbolic status, previously chosen to feature on Yemen’s national currency in recognition of its historical, cultural, and aesthetic value, SPA reported.

Originally constructed as a fortified stronghold to protect the city of Seiyun, the palace underwent several transformations over time and eventually became the official residence of the sultans of the Kathiri state, who once ruled Wadi Hadhramaut.

Despite its historical significance, the palace has not been spared the ravages of time and natural elements. It suffered severe damage, reaching a critical point in 2022 when a large section of its outer wall collapsed, sparking widespread concern over the future of the monument. This incident prompted the local community and authorities to call for its restoration to preserve its identity and beauty.

In response to a request from the Yemeni government and in support of its efforts to protect heritage sites, SDRPY launched a comprehensive project to restore Seiyun Palace. The project is funded by the program and implemented by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in cooperation with the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Yemen’s General Organization of Antiquities and Museums, with logistical and technical support from Yemen’s Social Fund for Development.

The restoration work included repairing the damaged outer wall and the mudbrick structures that form the palace’s core. Special attention was given to restoring the wooden ceilings, carved doors, and windows that reflect the craftsmanship of Yemeni artisans.

The project also focused on preserving the palace’s distinctive architectural identity by rehabilitating its traditional decorations and wall inscriptions. Local teams of engineers and technicians were trained in routine restoration techniques to ensure long-term maintenance.

The project represents a step toward enhancing development in Hadhramaut and supporting Yemen’s historical and cultural heritage. The palace is now better equipped to welcome large numbers of visitors year-round and to host various cultural events and occasions, making it an important cultural and tourism landmark.

The Seiyun Palace restoration project is part of a broader package of 264 projects and development initiatives implemented by SDRPY across various regions of the country. These initiatives span key sectors such as education, health, transportation, energy, water, agriculture, fisheries, institutional capacity building, and integrated development programs.

Most Viewed

 
 
Culture

UK Proposal to Charge Tourists to Visit Museums Sparks Backlash

FILE PHOTO: People walk in front of the British Museum in London, Britain, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk in front of the British Museum in London, Britain, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo
TT
TT

UK Proposal to Charge Tourists to Visit Museums Sparks Backlash

FILE PHOTO: People walk in front of the British Museum in London, Britain, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk in front of the British Museum in London, Britain, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo

Britain is considering introducing entry fees for tourists visiting some of England's most renowned museums, a proposal that has drawn criticism from restitution groups and countries while disputed artefacts remain on display.

Free admission to Britain's national museums and galleries was introduced in 2001 by former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair in a bid to make culture more accessible to all.

Last month, the UK government said it would work with the museum sector to explore the potential benefits of charging international visitors at ⁠national museums, including how ⁠this could support the arts sector. It would provide an update of the consultation before the end of the year, it said.

However, the proposal is facing backlash amid growing calls worldwide for artefacts to be sent back to their communities or countries of origin, Reuters reported.

Although some efforts have been made to confront the long-standing issue, artifacts as well as human ⁠remains taken during the colonial era are still held in various museums across Europe. Some long-standing claims for artifacts involving the British Museum include Greece's Parthenon Sculptures, known as Elgin marbles, and Nigeria's Benin Bronzes.

The British Museum has previously said that the strength of its collection lies in enabling millions of visitors to understand the world's cultures and how they are interconnected.

Ghana, which has some of its regalia and other artifacts in British institutions, said charging foreign visitors to view such objects raises issues of "fairness," particularly where restitution discussions remain ongoing, ⁠foreign minister ⁠Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told Reuters.

The proposal, if implemented, would be "unethica," said Eric Phillips, vice chair of the Caribbean Community's reparations commission, a bloc of 15 member states including Jamaica and Barbados.

"Why should we have to pay to see our heritage?" Phillips said.

Arley Gill, chairman of Grenada's national reparations committee, said the priority should be to return the artifacts to their "rightful owners."

Open Restitution Africa (ORA) said Africans and others already face barriers to accessing artifacts taken from their countries and held in Western museums, including visa requirements and travel costs.

"Introducing entry fees further compounds these inequalities," ORA said.

Meanwhile, the US-based non-profit Restitution Study Group said a fee exemption for such visitors would be a "meaningful gesture."

The government declined to comment on the criticism.

Culture

Riyadh Art Unveils 75 Works in Expanding Public Art Collection Across Capital

The artworks are strategically distributed across major streets, public squares, cultural centers, and key urban hubs. SPA
The artworks are strategically distributed across major streets, public squares, cultural centers, and key urban hubs. SPA
TT
TT

Riyadh Art Unveils 75 Works in Expanding Public Art Collection Across Capital

The artworks are strategically distributed across major streets, public squares, cultural centers, and key urban hubs. SPA
The artworks are strategically distributed across major streets, public squares, cultural centers, and key urban hubs. SPA

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City, through its “Riyadh Art” program, has unveiled 75 new artworks as part of a growing permanent collection installed across key locations in the capital.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to expand the presence of public art in urban spaces, with additional installations planned in the coming period.

The program aims to enrich daily life in Riyadh by integrating art into the urban fabric, contributing to a dynamic cultural environment that reflects the capital's regional and international stature.

As one of the world’s largest public art initiatives, the Riyadh Art program now features 75 installations, with plans to expand the collection by adding 115 more works. The current collection includes contributions from 35 Saudi artists and 100 international artists representing 45 countries.

Among the internationally renowned artists featured are Anish Kapoor, Giuseppe Penone, and Jeff Koons, alongside prominent Saudi artists such as Zaman Jassim, Mohammed Alsaleem, and Manal AlDowayan.

The artworks are strategically distributed across major streets, public squares, cultural centers, and key urban hubs, enabling residents and visitors to engage with them as part of their everyday environment and reinforcing the role of art in public life.

The collection comprises both commissioned and acquired works. Commissioned pieces are specifically designed to respond to their surroundings, integrating with the urban context and patterns of movement within each location.

Recent commissions were selected through an international competition that attracted 161 artists, with 72 shortlisted participants submitting 70 proposals. These contributions have helped shape a diverse and evolving collection spanning the city’s main axes and public spaces.

Culture

New Tools Rescue Old Art at Madrid’s Prado Museum

A conservator works on the restoration of gilded moldings at the Prado museum's sculpture restoration department in Madrid on October 23, 2025. (Pierre-Philippe Marcou/ AFP)
A conservator works on the restoration of gilded moldings at the Prado museum's sculpture restoration department in Madrid on October 23, 2025. (Pierre-Philippe Marcou/ AFP)
TT
TT

New Tools Rescue Old Art at Madrid’s Prado Museum

A conservator works on the restoration of gilded moldings at the Prado museum's sculpture restoration department in Madrid on October 23, 2025. (Pierre-Philippe Marcou/ AFP)
A conservator works on the restoration of gilded moldings at the Prado museum's sculpture restoration department in Madrid on October 23, 2025. (Pierre-Philippe Marcou/ AFP)

In a quiet space secluded from the throngs of daily visitors to Madrid's Prado art museum, a team of experts perpetuate an ancient tradition of restoring centuries-old European cultural treasures.

Creations by some of art's most illustrious names -- Goya, Velazquez, Rubens, Caravaggio, Bosch and El Greco -- are conserved in the vast, bright space at one of the world's most-visited museums.

The Prado has always put an emphasis on the conservation and restoration of art since it opened to the public in 1819.

Cutting-edge technology and modern tools to analyze and treat paintings and sculptures allow Almudena, Marta, Maria, Alvaro, Alicia, Elena, Sonia and Eva to maintain the tradition.

The team is capable of caring for the museum's most prized collections as well as works from other institutions.

In February, the Prado launched the restoration of "Pablo de Valladolid", an emblematic portrait that Spanish master Velazquez produced in the 17th century.

But the work will first undergo a deep technical analysis by new equipment, the museum said in a statement.

Scanning technology will allow the experts to identify and locate the materials used by the artist, while multispectral infrared reflectography will reveal details invisible to the naked eye.

Everything contributes to a deeper understanding of the artist's technique, the work's state of conservation and preparing its restoration.