Latest news with #Al-QattAl-Asiri
Saudi Gazette
27-05-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Aseer draws 8 million tourists in 2024, minister says
Saudi Gazette report ABHA — Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb announced that Aseer Region welcomed around 8 million tourists in 2024, positioning it as one of Saudi Arabia's leading tourism destinations. The announcement came on Tuesday during his participation in the second edition of the Aseer Investment Forum. Al-Khateeb highlighted Aseer's unique natural and cultural assets, saying they make the region an increasingly attractive environment for tourism investment. He revealed that the region's hospitality sector is set to expand with the addition of nearly 4,000 new hotel rooms in the coming years, supported by Saudi Arabia's broader tourism ecosystem. The minister also underscored the ministry's ongoing efforts to attract global hospitality brands, many of which are now eyeing Aseer due to its untapped potential and growing emphasized the crucial role of the local community, especially Aseer's youth, in delivering an authentic and memorable tourism noted that Aseer has evolved beyond its traditional image as a seasonal summer destination, becoming a year-round attraction thanks to its rich environmental and cultural the region's key cultural draws are Asiri arts such as Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, traditional clothing, and local cuisine, all of which have helped shape a distinctive tourism identity for the region.
Leaders
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Leaders
Saudi Artist Devotes Life to Documenting Al-Qatt Al-Asiri Art
Saudi visual artist Ibrahim Al-Almaai has devoted more than three decades of his life to documenting Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, a vibrant traditional art in the Asir region, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Known as Al-Qatt, Al-Katba, or Al-Zayan, women in Asir were painting this old art on the walls offering stunning appearance in front of Saudi homes. In 2017, it received international recognition after being registered on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Al-Almaai stressed that for the past 33 years he was visiting several villages in the eastern, western, northern, or central parts of the Asir region. He said that his mission was to look for any remnants of this heritage art in homes, indicating that many of which have been lost due to time and weather. Fortunately, Al-Almaai has documented over 1,200 variations of Al-Qatt patterns and colors despite various challenges. He further noted that there are four key components of a typical heritage home adorned with Al-Qatt, as follows: Al Shabaka (the Network) are single-colored, interlaced lines that create the structural foundation of the design. Al-Hanash (the Snake) are serpent-like motifs inspired by the Coluber snake. Al-Khatmah or Al-Akhtam (the Seal) represent a form of visual closure at the end of a design. Al-Qatt (the Lines) are the horizontal strokes layered under the primary art, generally known as Al-Katba (the Writing), Al-Naqsh (the Inscription), or Al-Zayan (the Adornment) depending on the local dialect. Related Topics: Saudi Artist Collaborates with Sephora for Founding Day Illustrations Silver Handicrafts Showcase Saudi Arabia's Cultural Richness, Artistic Legacy Saudi Artist Muhannad Shono to Illuminate Desert X 2025 Short link : Post Views: 14 Related Stories
CairoScene
17-04-2025
- CairoScene
This Ancient ‘Gingerbread Village' Is Carved Into Saudi's Mountains
This Ancient 'Gingerbread Village' Is Carved Into Saudi's Mountains The road from Abha descends through the Asir mountains, curving past ridges softened by mist and valleys stitched with green terraces. Some fifty miles from the city, at the base of a steep incline, lies Rijal Almaa—a village so quiet, so composed, it seems to have emerged fully formed from the stone itself. At first glance, you might miss it. The buildings—tall, stacked, angular—cling to the earth like outcrops, their forms echoing the rhythm of the hills. But then the road straightens, the valley opens, and the village reveals itself in full: towers of stone and clay, rimmed in white, their windows catching the sun like mirrors. For centuries, this place was a resting point—traders passing through from Yemen to the Levant, pilgrims on their way to Makkah and Madinah. The village rose from the necessities of exchange, of shelter, of spiritual pause. Yet what was built here went beyond utility. Today, Rijal Almaa feels less like a crossroads and more like a memory preserved in architecture. There are roughly sixty buildings in the village, many of them rising five, six, even eight stories high. Constructed from dark stone, clay, and wood, the structures are sometimes called "forts," though their elegance makes the word feel too blunt. The façades are studded with white crystal stones. Inside, the walls bloom with Al-Qatt Al-Asiri—a form of geometric mural painting passed down through generations of women. The colours are bright, sometimes clashing, always intentional. The effect is one of quiet rebellion: a burst of expression inside walls meant to keep the desert out. At the center of it all is the Rijal Almaa Heritage Museum, housed in what was once the Al Alwan Palace. Over four centuries old, the building now contains more than 2,000 artifacts—manuscripts, tools, weapons, objects from lives once lived here. Though time frayed its edges, the village never truly disappeared. In recent years, restoration efforts—led by national bodies and supported by the local community—have brought Rijal Almaa into the present without sanding down its character. An open-air theater now hosts performances against a backdrop of stone towers; green spaces spread where once there were only rocks. In 2021, the World Tourism Organization named it one of the best tourism villages in the world. It remains on Saudi Arabia's tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage status. Despite everything, the feeling Rijal Almaa leaves is older than any plaque or award. Visitors walk narrow alleys where camels once passed. They see the mountains framed through windows once opened to catch the evening light. They move through a village where everything—the towers, the art, the quiet—is still speaking, if you know how to listen.
Arab News
22-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi fund celebrates cultural innovation at Storytellers event
Riyadh: The Cultural Development Fund hosted the third annual Storytellers event in Riyadh, bringing together key officials, cultural leaders, entrepreneurs and creators from various cultural fields. The gathering is part of the fund's efforts to strengthen connections, explore new opportunities and support the sector's momentum, according to the Saudi Press Agency. It featured a keynote by the fund's CEO, Majed Al-Hugail, followed by remarks from representatives of the Elite Chefs Center, behind the CHEFPreneur program — one of the initiatives supported by the fund. The program equips aspiring chefs with culinary expertise and entrepreneurial skills to launch their own projects and establish competitive businesses. The gathering also celebrated 42 graduates of the program who had completed their training. In line with its commitment to supporting enabled projects, the fund showcased several beneficiary projects, allowing guests to experience their creative offerings firsthand. The event featured cultural activities aligned with the Year of Handicrafts 2025. Guests took part in traditional crafts like prayer bead-making and henna art, while a special art exhibition showcased works by visual artist and craftswoman Naifah Al-Shahrani. Inspired by the traditional Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, the exhibition honored the rich heritage of southern Saudi Arabia with vibrant colors and intricate details. The event aimed to strengthen strategic partnerships with government entities, the private sector and nonprofit organizations to drive sustainable growth in the cultural sector, contributing to economic development and enhancing quality of life. Nawaf Al-Owain, the fund's marketing and communication executive director, told Arab News: 'This annual gathering is part of the fund's efforts to foster strong partnerships with key stakeholders and sustain the cultural sector's momentum. 'It also reflects the fund's role as a key financial enabler and its commitment to empowering creatives and cultural entrepreneurship.' He added: 'Now in its third year, the event has become a cornerstone of the fund's outreach efforts, establishing a platform that unites creatives, entrepreneurs and influencers to exchange ideas, share perspectives, and explore collaboration opportunities across cultural and financial sectors. 'By fostering dialogue and collaboration, the fund aims to promote partnerships that drive growth and sustainability in the cultural sector.'
Arab News
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Living traditions: How women have contributed to preserving Saudi crafts and heritage
RIYADH: Hams Al-Mureh began drawing in her childhood, largely influenced by her surroundings: intricate and colorful geometric shapes lined the walls of her grandmother's house, the signature of the art of Al-Qatt Al-Asiri. Women in the southern region of Saudi Arabia, historically, were responsible for plastering and painting these decorative motifs for more than 300 years. They are now culturally defining elements of the rich heritage of a modern Kingdom, but women's contributions to Saudi culture do not end there: their role was prominent in establishing arts, crafts, and cuisines that are a big part of the burgeoning nation. Al-Mureh, now an established Saudi artist, told Arab News: 'I would watch my grandmother as she painted, and I first participated with her in decorating the walls of her house in 2009. I was not just practicing a hobby, but contributing to reviving an ancient heritage.' She spoke about how Al-Qatt Al-Asiri 'is an identity, a visual language that expresses the history and culture of women in the southern region of Saudi Arabia.' She added: 'It is also a symbol of life, beauty, and social communication, as it was traditionally painted collectively in homes to reflect the spirit of cooperation and female creativity.' As a child she was drawn to the bold color composition and the harmonious geometric details of the murals, but what mattered most to her was the emotional connection with her family. Her grandmother was a natural-born artist, she says, and Al-Mureh inherited this through storytelling and direct experiences. 'It wasn't a traditional way of teaching as much as it was participation in a way of life,' she explained. Al-Qatt is considered an art traditionally done by women as a means of decorating a home's interior. The more intricate and skilled the work is, the more dignified the women of the family are considered. The geometrical shapes, consisting of lines, triangles, diamonds, and squares, are traditionally painted with natural colors extracted from flowers, leaves, and various metals. It was inscribed on UNESCO's lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017 and one of its most notable figures was the late Saudi visual artist Fatima Abou Gahas, who was known for her naghash, or fresco, wall painting. Al-Mureh now incorporates elements of Al-Qatt painted over a canvas of palm leaf weaving — another traditional form of art in Saudi. While these weaved mats and fans are now considered great gifts or decorative pieces, Bedouins once relied heavily on the weaving technique to create baskets, bowls, mats, tablecloths, brooms, and bags to be carried by their camels. Palm leaves are dried out in the sun, then cut and soaked before being dyed, if required, and then sewn together. Al-Mureh said: 'Palm weaving art, such as palm baskets and mats, was part of daily life in Saudi Arabia, just like Asiri Qatt. I wanted to merge the two arts to make my artistic practice not only aesthetic, but also stories that carry the spirit of a place and time.' Traditional handcrafts are considered one of the most significant aspects of Saudi Arabia's cultural heritage. The 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, a UNESCO treaty, has focused specifically on passing on heritage from one generation to another. Sumaiah Al-Ghamdi, the senior archaeological research officer of the antiquities sector at the Heritage Commission, told Arab News: 'Women have played a major role in preserving these crafts by actively practicing them.' Sadu weaving, which is also listed by UNESCO, is one of the most prominent traditional and creative arts in the Kingdom. It has been practiced by those living in the Arabian Peninsula since ancient times and, in turn, those living in Saudi Arabia since its inception. Al-Ghamdi added: 'As time passed by, it encapsulated an image of human and cultural heritage in the Kingdom, through the designs, its unique craftsmanship, the detailed decorative elements, and the bright colors.' The horizontal style of weaving is made using camel hair, and was traditionally used to make desert tents that protected from the nighttime cold and the daytime sun. It is also decorative and has now made its way into many modern designs like abayas and furniture. Al-Mureh said: 'Preserving traditional arts does not mean freezing them in time but reintroducing them in contemporary ways that make them accessible to the new generations, whether through visual arts, design, or even handicraft products. 'Heritage is not just the past; it is the foundation on which we build our future.' The practice of applying henna — a reddish-brown dye made from dried, powdered leaves of the henna tree — to the body was recently added to UNESCO's list. A report from the Saudi Press Agency then said: 'Henna has great cultural significance in Saudi Arabia, with the art mastered by women and passed down through generations. It represents joy and optimism and is a social tradition that strengthens community bonds.' Saudi cuisine is also an indication of the country's rich history, with each of the 13 regions in the country having its own unique dishes. Al-Ghamdi said: 'We have jareesh, harees, khubz ahmar, qursan. There are so many dishes depending on the region and they are being made at the same time in either winter or summer. 'Our women's work to pass these typical dishes down to the following generations is the best form of preserving this heritage. They have innovated methods of keeping and storing food, like drying, pickling, souring, or sugaring, as a form of food preservation.' In an artwork that celebrates women's dual role in establishing the country's culinary and musical heritage, artist Najla Alqubaisi presented 'The Sound of Millstone' during the Noor Riyadh festival of art and light last year. The audiovisual installation featured folk songs sung by Najdi women during long hours at the millstone. Al-Ghamdi said: 'I believe that folk songs and Saudi folklore can be attributed to women because they were essentially sung for and about them, and this in itself is a preservation of the popular song. 'Another thing is that women sang and performed traditional songs at wedding parties in the past and they are still doing it today.'
