
Artisans showcase heritage at Al-Atula festival
Festival supervisor Othman Al-Zahrani said the event features more than 10 sections dedicated to traditional crafts.
These include ancient building techniques, door and window engraving, sword and dagger making, and Sadu weaving, the SPA reported on Wednesday.
The sections offer visitors a unique opportunity to experience traditional professions firsthand with the artisans using simple tools and natural materials rooted in the heritage of the Baha region.
The event aligns with the Year of Handicrafts, an initiative launched to celebrate and support traditional crafts across the Kingdom.
The Baha region is known for its thriving craft industries that reflect the identity and history of its people.
More than 200 artisans from the region practice and preserve 20 distinct types of skills passed down through generations and showcased in local markets and cultural events.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab News
44 minutes ago
- Arab News
Tomorrow's innovators need more than rote learning: What the Reggio Emilia method gets right
Tomorrow's innovators will need far more than the ability to memorize facts. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 rightly places innovation, a global outlook, and human capability at the center of its development strategy. Yet, many education systems remain focused on standardized testing and rote learning. Inquiry-based approaches, inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, offer a compelling alternative that nurtures learners who are flexible, reflective, and equipped to tackle complex, open-ended challenges in a rapidly-changing world. The Reggio Emilia philosophy originated in northern Italy after World War II, when educators and families in the town of Reggio Emilia came together to reimagine what school could be. At its heart lies a radical belief in children's innate resourcefulness. Loris Malaguzzi, its founder, argued that children are 'extremely well‑equipped from birth, resourceful and capable,' deserving recognition as citizens with rights from their very first days, not just upon reaching adulthood. By viewing learning as a co-constructed journey rather than a one-way transmission of knowledge, Reggio-inspired classrooms celebrate children's curiosities, from which educators design intentional learning experiences. Central to this approach is the concept of the environment as a 'third teacher.' Traditional classrooms often rely on plastic toys or pre-packaged kits; in contrast, Reggio-inspired settings are stocked with natural, open-ended materials, such as clay, shells, wood, mirrors, and magnifiers, that invite experimentation and wonder. When a child holds a piece of driftwood or peers through a magnifying glass, they are prompted to ask 'what if…?' rather than 'what's the right answer?' Educators observe and document each child's explorations through photographs, sketches, and transcribed conversations. This pedagogical documentation serves not only as an assessment but as a reflective tool, enabling teachers to shape future projects in response to emerging interests and curiosities. Such a model aligns closely with Vision 2030's call for agile thinkers and emotionally intelligent collaborators. Consider a project in which young learners design and build miniature 'snowstorm shelters.' Beyond practicing early engineering concepts, testing structural stability, measuring angles, and calculating materials, they also refine essential interpersonal skills: Negotiating roles, resolving conflicts, and persevering when initial plans collapse under the weight of falling sand or clay. These experiences cultivate resilience and creative problem‑solving far beyond what a worksheet could achieve, embedding understanding through hands‑on, collective inquiry. Inquiry‑based education also transforms the role of families. Instead of homework being merely 'tasks to complete,' parents become co-learners, guiding with open-ended questions such as 'what did you notice today?' or 'what might happen if…?' When a child recounts their classroom discoveries over dinner, the kitchen table becomes an extension of the learning environment. This partnership extends the culture of curiosity into the home, reinforcing children's enthusiasm and modeling the very skills of listening, wondering and reflecting that Vision 2030 seeks to foster across society. Teachers, in turn, shift from being dispensers of content to co‑researchers in each child's journey. They cultivate a stance of curiosity themselves, asking 'why did you choose that material?' or 'how could we explore this idea together?' This humility and openness to surprise are not easy; they require time, trust, and ongoing professional reflection. Yet the rewards are plain to see: Learners who enter the classroom quietly observing soon leave buzzing with questions, eager to connect dots that even their teachers hadn't noticed. This holistic approach embeds rigor in an authentic way. Academic goals are neither abandoned nor secondary; rather, they are woven seamlessly into projects that hold genuine meaning for learners. A study of plant growth might emerge from a child's fascination with a seed sprouting on a windowsill, mathematics unfolds naturally as children track measurements and patterns, language skills develop as they describe their process and reflect on outcomes. Because each project springs from learners' own questions, motivation soars and understanding deepens. As Saudi Arabia continues to diversify its economy and drive technological and societal innovation, the Kingdom's greatest asset will be a generation of thinkers prepared for uncertainty, fluent in collaboration and capable of inventing solutions to problems not yet visible. Inquiry-based, Reggio-inspired education provides a powerful framework for cultivating these qualities. By treating children as capable protagonists, designing environments that spark inquiry and trusting learners to follow their questions, educators can help fulfill the bold ambitions of Vision 2030. Tomorrow's breakthroughs will originate not from perfect answers to yesterday's questions, but from the unexpected connections forged when curious minds are given space and confidence to explore. If we are serious about fostering true innovation, we must commit to educational models that honor children's potential from day one, models that put inquiry, respect and collaboration at the center of learning rather than the periphery. In doing so, we will equip our young people not merely to survive in a changing world, but to lead its transformation. • Elizabeth Connor-Scahill, principal at EtonHouse Arabia


Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
King Abdulaziz international Qur'an competition to begin on Saturday
RIYADH: The 45th King Abdulaziz International Competition for the Memorization, Recitation, and Interpretation of the Qur'an will start on Saturday, Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. The competition is organized and supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, and will be held at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Contestants from 128 countries around the world will participate, the largest number of participating countries since the competition was established more than 45 years ago. The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, Sheikh Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh, extended his gratitude and appreciation to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their continuous support for the Holy Qur'an. 'The Ministry is honored to organize this prestigious competition, which is considered one of the most prominent international Qur'an competitions. It enjoys a high status, highlighting the Kingdom's leadership in caring for the Holy Quran,' Sheikh Abdullatif said. 'It brings together an elite group of memorizers of the book of God from various countries around the world in the holiest place on earth annually, in an honorable manner that reflects the Kingdom's mission to serve Islam and spread the values of moderation and balance,' he added.


Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
From aboard a Jordanian Air Force jet dropping aid over Gaza, Arab News witnesses devastation firsthand
AMMAN: Gaza's beachfront was once a lifeline for Palestinians — a place where cafes bustled, fishermen hauled in their catch, and people living under a 17-year siege could cling to a fragile sense of normalcy. Today, the view from high overhead aboard a Royal Jordanian Air Force flight dropping aid onto the war-ravaged enclave shows that little of this once-vibrant seaside community now remains. Nearly two years of intense Israeli bombardment have left Gaza in ruins. Many blocks are filled with crumbling buildings and piles of ash-gray rubble, while other neighborhoods have been erased entirely, leaving behind empty voids. Along the shoreline, tents are now scattered where homes once stood, sheltering families displaced by the fighting. Arab News joined one of the near-daily humanitarian flights, which the Jordanian Armed Forces resumed on July 27 in coordination with several countries, to drop aid over Gaza in response to reports of rising starvation. From the air, people and cars could be seen moving through the rubble-strewn streets below — a stark glimpse of how Palestinians continue to navigate daily life amid devastation with little to no access to food, water, shelter, or medicine. Despite the routine humanitarian missions, crew members say comprehending the view from above never gets any easier. 'It's heartbreaking,' one crew member told Arab News as he helped load the C-130 military aircraft set to depart from King Abdullah II Air Base near Zarqa. 'It hits us the same way every day. Seeing the destruction in real life is nothing like watching it on TV, especially when you see the people on the ground.' Flying over Gaza after about nine months of suspended operations showed just how much the destruction has worsened since the first round of airdrops last year, he said. On Wednesday, seven aircraft — two from Jordan, two from Germany, and one each from the UAE, France, and Belgium — took off from the air base in Amman, dropping 54 tons of medical supplies, food, and baby formula over Gaza from an altitude of about 2,500 feet. Humanitarian organizations say airdrops offer only a tiny fraction of what is needed to sustain the 2.2 million people in Gaza, where the UN warned of an 'unfolding famine.' The situation in Gaza deteriorated after Israel blocked all aid shipments for two and a half months following the collapse of a six-week ceasefire in March. Since it eased the blockade in late May, Israel has allowed in a trickle of UN aid trucks — about 70 a day on average, according to official Israeli figures. That is far below the 500 to 600 trucks a day that UN agencies say are needed. The aid, which was dropped on Wednesday, is equivalent to less than three. While military officials confirmed that the aid provided through airdrops is insufficient, they believe what they are doing is making a difference. 'We are proud that we are able to support with whatever we can. It's our humanitarian duty,' one crew member told Arab News. A ground operations supervisor said Jordan's role in leading international aid efforts fills him with pride. 'Our teams work around the clock, and we are proud of the tremendous effort being made on the ground,' he told Arab News. 'We feel like we are doing something, regardless how minimal, to help people living in heartbreaking conditions.' Since the airdrops resumed, 379 tons of aid have been delivered, according to military data. So far, the Jordanian Armed Forces has carried out 142 missions, in addition to 299 joint airdrops conducted in coordination with Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, and Spain. Israel began allowing airdrops in response to growing international pressure over the worsening hunger crisis in Gaza. The measures include daily 10-hour pauses in fighting across three densely populated areas — Deir Al-Balah, Gaza City, and Al-Mawasi — along with the opening of limited humanitarian corridors to allow UN aid convoys into the strip. Despite these efforts, people in Gaza are continuing to succumb to starvation. According to local authorities, 188 Palestinians, including 94 children, have died from hunger since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel denies there is starvation in Gaza, instead blaming any shortages on Hamas for allegedly stealing aid or on the UN for distribution failures. On July 28, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X: 'There is no policy of starvation in Gaza. There is no starvation in Gaza.' The hunger crisis is worsened by the deadly conditions surrounding aid distribution through four centers operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US and Israeli-backed logistics startup. Since their establishment in May, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while trying to access aid, according to UN estimates. The foundation has repeatedly denied these accusations. Israel is now facing renewed pressure to fully reopen land crossings and allow uninterrupted aid convoys to enter, as humanitarian groups stress that airdrops, while better than nothing, are no substitute for coordinated, large-scale deliveries by land. With no precision or coordination, airdrops tend to end up in the hands of whoever reaches them first rather than the most needy. Aid groups say airdrops can also pose a threat to life, landing on civilians or causing stampedes as desperate people rush to collect relief. However, a military official told Arab News the airdrops have the added advantage of reaching areas that are now inaccessible by road. 'Some neighborhoods are flattened to the ground. The road infrastructure in Gaza is destroyed. Therefore, we can reach areas that lorries cannot,' the official said. Flights are carried out with international missions to drop the aid at designated points across northern, central, and southern Gaza. On the Jordanian flight, each pallet was packed, sealed, and divided into half-ton units. Each box was packed with a mix of aid — including food, medicine, and baby formula — to meet the diverse needs of the people it would reach. Asked how long the air drops are likely to continue, a senior army official told Arab News: 'As long as we have the capability.' After takeoff at 11 a.m., the air force crew shouted instructions over the deafening roar of the C-130 aircraft, coordinating with the pilot and with each other through headphones. At noon, Gaza's landscape came into view along the wide stretch of shoreline. The journalists on board, who have long been barred from entering Gaza to report from the ground, were instructed not to photograph the devastation below. Ten minutes later, the plane descended to a lower altitude. The rear doors opened to reveal the vast, ravaged landscape. A countdown began before eight pallets, each weighing a ton, were released in two batches, parachuting into the unknown over Gaza. 'This is for you, Gaza. May God help you,' one crew member murmured, embracing his colleague as the aid disappeared from view. Then the doors closed. The aircraft turned back toward Amman, leaving behind only questions. Who would reach the aid first? Who would carry a box of food or medicine home to their family? Who would be left to wait for the next drop? Would another drop arrive?