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.



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.


Saudi Culture Minister Inaugurates Kingdom's Pavilion as Guest of Honor at Damascus Book Fair

Saudi Culture Minister Inaugurates Kingdom's Pavilion as Guest of Honor at Damascus Book Fair
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Saudi Culture Minister Inaugurates Kingdom's Pavilion as Guest of Honor at Damascus Book Fair

Saudi Culture Minister Inaugurates Kingdom's Pavilion as Guest of Honor at Damascus Book Fair

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, who is the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission Board Chairman, has inaugurated the Kingdom’s pavilion as guest of honor at the 2026 Damascus International Book Fair.

The inauguration took place on Thursday in the Syrian capital in the presence of Syrian Minister of Culture Mohammed Yassin Saleh and his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.

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

Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission Chief Executive Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Wasil affirmed that the Kingdom's presence as guest of honor at the fair reflects its leading role in the Arab cultural landscape and embodies its belief in the role of culture as a bridge for communication, a space for dialogue, and a tool for supporting joint cultural initiatives.

He explained that the Kingdom's presence in Damascus affirms the depth of Saudi-Syrian relations, based on partnership and mutual respect, and stems from the Kingdom's commitment to strengthening cultural exchange.

The Kingdom's pavilion showcases the cultural and creative diversity of the Saudi cultural and literary scene through a comprehensive cultural program that includes intellectual seminars, poetry evenings, a manuscripts exhibition, a Saudi fashion corner, a hospitality corner, and a corner displaying archaeological replicas, in addition to Saudi performing arts performances that express the depth of the Kingdom's cultural heritage.

The pavilion offers visitors to the exhibition the opportunity to explore aspects of Saudi culture in its literary, heritage, and human dimensions within a cultural experience presented in a unifying Arab spirit, affirming that culture remains one of the most effective means of fostering understanding and building shared meaning.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met on Thursday with Prince Badr at the Conference Palace in Damascus.

The meeting was attended on the Saudi side by Advisor at the Royal Court Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri, along with other officials.


AlUla Consolidates Its Position as a Premier Global Cultural and Arts Destination

AlUla boasts a rich, diverse cultural and artistic landscape - SPA
AlUla boasts a rich, diverse cultural and artistic landscape - SPA
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AlUla Consolidates Its Position as a Premier Global Cultural and Arts Destination

AlUla boasts a rich, diverse cultural and artistic landscape - SPA
AlUla boasts a rich, diverse cultural and artistic landscape - SPA

AlUla Governorate continues to strengthen its standing as one of the world’s prominent cultural and arts destinations, drawing on a deep-rooted civilizational heritage, exceptional natural and historical assets, and an integrated cultural vision that has transformed it into a vibrant platform for artistic creativity, knowledge production, and contemporary cultural dialogue.

AlUla boasts a rich, diverse cultural and artistic landscape, including specialized exhibitions, open-air museums, and archaeological sites that host inscriptions and historical writings documenting successive human civilizations, reinforcing its status as a cultural hub that combines the authenticity of history with the vitality of contemporary artistic expression.

Throughout the year, AlUla hosts a wide range of cultural and artistic exhibitions and experiences highlighting visual arts, design, crafts, photography, and cinema, alongside distinctive artistic commissions, specialized research and publications, and artist residency programs that contribute to the production and exchange of artistic knowledge and provide platforms for creative dialogue among artists, researchers, and the public.

Open-air museums are a prominent feature of AlUla’s cultural experience, where rock inscriptions and ancient writings are found across multiple sites, serving as living testimony to a heritage spanning thousands of years. They offer visitors an immersive, educational experience in the heart of nature that brings together history, environment, and human heritage.

This cultural momentum stems from extensive international partnerships with leading cultural and arts institutions, which have supported knowledge exchange, program development, and the attraction of artists and researchers worldwide, further reinforcing AlUla’s status as a global platform for cultural and artistic production.

Today, AlUla stands as a global cultural and arts destination that unites the authenticity of the past with the vitality of the present, helping shape a contemporary cultural future that reflects the depth of human identity and enhances the Kingdom’s presence on the international cultural and arts scene.