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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
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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.

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Culture

Archaeologists Find Huge Viking Textile Production Site in Denmark

Moesgaard Museum archaeologist Liv Stidsing Reher-Langberg holds a Viking Age weight loom unearthed in Aarhus, Denmark, on June 22, 2026. (AP)
Moesgaard Museum archaeologist Liv Stidsing Reher-Langberg holds a Viking Age weight loom unearthed in Aarhus, Denmark, on June 22, 2026. (AP)
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Archaeologists Find Huge Viking Textile Production Site in Denmark

Moesgaard Museum archaeologist Liv Stidsing Reher-Langberg holds a Viking Age weight loom unearthed in Aarhus, Denmark, on June 22, 2026. (AP)
Moesgaard Museum archaeologist Liv Stidsing Reher-Langberg holds a Viking Age weight loom unearthed in Aarhus, Denmark, on June 22, 2026. (AP)

Archaeologists have discovered a huge Viking Age textile production site in Denmark that dates back more than 1,000 years and underlines the sophistication of Viking society.

Experts from the Moesgaard Museum said this week that the sprawling 100,000-square-meter (more than 1 million-square-foot) site features an area for processing flax as well as more than 80 pit houses — semi-submerged huts that were used as workshops and dwellings in Viking times.

It's located in Søften, 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of Denmark’s second-largest city, Aarhus, on the Jutland peninsula. The site dates back to the late Iron Age and early Viking Age, sometime between A.D. 600 and 950.

Archaeologist Liv Stidsing Reher-Langberg, who led the 10-month dig, said that “we have a clear focus on textile production, which makes this settlement different from other kinds of settlements of this period.”

“We have spindle whorls, we have weight looms; that tells us about what has been going on in the pit houses,” said Reher-Langberg, adding that archaeologists had also discovered silver coins, glass beads and pottery.

Experts found separate areas for production and crafts, plus a single residential home, which suggests work was overseen by a powerful individual with control over resources and production.

Reher-Langberg said that, over the last three decades, people with metal detectors had unearthed several silver coins in the area. A trial excavation 1½ years ago, before the start of construction work on a new road and industrial area, then piqued archaeologists’ interest.

“We could see in the trenches that it just keeps on going, with these houses and pit houses and textile production features,” Reher-Langberg said.

Moesgaard Museum historian Kasper Andersen said that the discovery at Søften is “another piece in the puzzle” to understanding the local economic, cultural and political structure at the time.

During the Viking era, Aarhus — then known as Aros — functioned as a center for royalty and international trade. And last year, archaeologists discovered another Viking site in Lisbjerg, just 4 kilometers (2½ miles) away, that was likely home to members of the nobility.

Goods and resources were likely brought from the countryside and settlements like Søften, before entering an extensive international trade network, Andersen said.

“When you have a production site of this scale, it cannot be only because of the local area. It needs to be understood as part of a greater network, a much bigger international perspective,” Andersen said.

Reher-Langberg hopes future carbon dating and pollen analysis might answer some lingering questions, for instance about what kind of textile production went on at the site.

During the Viking Age, considered to run from A.D. 793 to 1066, Norsemen known as Vikings undertook large-scale raids, colonization, conquest and trade throughout Europe, even reaching North America.

Andersen said that the discovery at Søften shows that Vikings were “not just simple, uncivilized, barbaric hordes, rambling about Europe.”

“To have a place like Søften, you need a very well-organized society with a production line, and you also need a market to have the production,” he said. “The textiles from Søften go into a market that’s much bigger than just the local area.”

Culture

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Visits Ameen Rihani Museum

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Fahd Al-Dosari is seen during his visit to the museum. (SPA)
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Fahd Al-Dosari is seen during his visit to the museum. (SPA)
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Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Visits Ameen Rihani Museum

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Fahd Al-Dosari is seen during his visit to the museum. (SPA)
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Fahd Al-Dosari is seen during his visit to the museum. (SPA)

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Fahd Al-Dosari visited on Monday the Ameen Rihani Museum in the town of Freike in Matn District, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

The ambassador was received by members of the Rihani family, led by the museum's curator, Ameen Albert Rihani, who welcomed him and praised the historic relations between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.

They recalled the historic meeting between King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud and Lebanese writer and historian Ameen Rihani in 1922.

During the visit, Al-Dosari toured the museum's historical and literary sections and viewed the exhibition marking the centenary of the book “Rihaniyyat”.

Culture

On World Camel Day, Saudi Arabia’s AlUla Celebrates Camel Heritage and Reinforces Its Cultural Identity

In Saudi Arabia, the relationship with camels extends beyond traditional heritage to form an integral part of national identity and collective memory. (SPA)
In Saudi Arabia, the relationship with camels extends beyond traditional heritage to form an integral part of national identity and collective memory. (SPA)
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On World Camel Day, Saudi Arabia’s AlUla Celebrates Camel Heritage and Reinforces Its Cultural Identity

In Saudi Arabia, the relationship with camels extends beyond traditional heritage to form an integral part of national identity and collective memory. (SPA)
In Saudi Arabia, the relationship with camels extends beyond traditional heritage to form an integral part of national identity and collective memory. (SPA)

World Camel Day, observed annually on June 22, serves as a global occasion to reflect on the enduring relationship between humans and camels throughout history.

The day highlights camels' economic contributions, their role in supporting food security and sustainable development, and their cultural significance, which extends beyond geographical boundaries and has made them a deeply rooted symbol in the collective memory of peoples worldwide, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

In Saudi Arabia, the relationship with camels extends beyond traditional heritage to form an integral part of national identity and collective memory. This is reflected in the significant attention devoted to the sector through specialized initiatives and events, support for camel owners, and efforts to preserve and sustain this heritage as one of the Kingdom's most prominent cultural assets.

Across AlUla, rock art and inscriptions dating back thousands of years tell the story of the close relationship between humans and camels. (SPA)

Across AlUla, rock art and inscriptions dating back thousands of years tell the story of the close relationship between humans and camels. These animals contributed to the prosperity of trade routes, facilitated mobility, and supported the stability of successive communities.

Camels remain an essential part of AlUla's heritage and a testament to the deep connection between people and their environment since ancient times.

Today, camels in AlUla are more than witnesses to history. They are an integral part of the region's cultural and sporting landscape and a key element of the tourism experience offered by the land of civilizations.

Through a contemporary vision that combines the authenticity of history with the aspirations of the future, AlUla continues to showcase this rich heritage, ensuring that camels remain among the most enduring symbols in the story of people and place across generations.