How Islamic customs complement local traditions during Ramadan across Saudi Arabia

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AlUla’s Old Town with its marketplace and view of mountains. In Saudi Arabia’s close-knit communities, traditional ways of celebrating the holy month are passed down through the generations, even as new customs spring to life. (Supplied)
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Updated 31 March 2023
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How Islamic customs complement local traditions during Ramadan across Saudi Arabia

  • The Kingdom’s 13 regions revive their own unique and beloved local habits and practices during the holy month 
  • Iftar gatherings include region-specific dishes, decorations and games, often involving the extended community

JEDDAH: For centuries, Muslims across the world have shared common traditions during the holy month of Ramadan stemming from Islamic practices, such as breaking their daylight fast with dates, water or laban, as was the Prophet Muhammad’s custom.

However, some local traditions, which are distinct to a particular nation or region, have found their way into the routines, feasts and celebrations that mark the holy month. Saudi Arabia, with its many diverse regions, is no different.

Every year, in the ninth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar, the Kingdom’s 13 regions, its hundreds of towns and cities, and more rural reaches will revive their own unique and beloved local habits and practices.

In the big cities, the streets are regularly packed with pedestrians and vehicles as shoppers race to make last-minute purchases, while devout worshippers find space amid the bustle for regular prayer and to read from the holy Qur’an.

Togetherness is an important theme of Ramadan, with families, friends and often whole communities gathering at long tables to share in the iftar feast each day after sunset in homes decorated with twinkling lights and lanterns.

The dishes served at these gatherings, and when important feasts take place, are often distinct to a particular local culinary culture and the availability of particular ingredients.




Traditional dishes at a southern table. (Supplied)

In Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, many members of the community will meet before Ramadan to share a last meal of familiar dishes that are uncommon during the holy month. The “ghabgah” is usually held on the night preceding Ramadan or a few days before.

During the month, the region’s popular dishes include balaleet (sweet vermicelli and eggs), asida (lump of dough made by stirring wheat flour into boiling water, sometimes with added butter or honey), samosas, and sago pudding.

Around the middle of the holy month in the Eastern Province and other parts of the Gulf region, children will dress in traditional clothing and go door-to-door in their neighborhood, singing songs in exchange for nuts and candy, in a tradition known as “gergean” or “knocking.”




A shopkeeper prepares an order for traditional sweets for a customer in the capital Riyadh on March 27, 2023, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. (AFP)

On the far side of the peninsula, in the western region of Hijaz, the dish exchange tradition is still alive today. “Al-to’ma” is a year-round custom where a plate is never returned empty. Everything from soups and samosas to traditional dessert delicacies such as qatayef, basboosa, or sago pudding is exchanged.

Many families also share subya, a drink made especially in Ramadan to quench one’s thirst, made from barley or bread soaked overnight with spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, sugar and raisins, to give it its distinctive red color.

“It’s a family’s best kept secret,” Umm Khalid Mashady, a resident of Madinah, told Arab News.




Saudi men shop for traditional beverages during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan in Riyadh. (AFP file)

“My husband takes pride in making the drink every year, and we share it with our neighbors, even those who moved away because that was the way back then. Many people prefer to buy it from stores today, but you’ll still find them following their family recipes.”

Mashady highlights the importance of family during Ramadan gatherings. “A Hijazi table is never without extra family involved,” she said.

“The calm before breaking our fast is common as every household is busy conducting their prayers or reading the holy book in the last hour before sunset, the golden hour. By doing so, even children pick up the habit and grow accustomed to it and will thus pass it down to their children after that.”

Foul (fava beans cooked to a mash) accompanied by tamees (a traditional bread baked in a tandoor) are also two popular staples on a Hijazi table that go hand in hand.




Workers preparing the traditional "Qatayef" sweets, a folded pancake filled with cream or nuts, at a shop in Riyadh. (AFP file photo)

Also common on Saudi dinner tables during Ramadan are dates of all shapes and colors, oats soup, meat and cheese samosas, luqaimat (fried dough), Vimto drink, and kunafa.

These gatherings are about more than just food, however. Games and other family activities are also important traditions. A carrom board, a tradition brought to the Kingdom decades ago from India, is often brought out after the meal and Taraweeh prayers, while others prefer to kick around a soccer ball.

Today, many young men and women like to gather after evening prayers to play baloot, a popular card game in the region, similar to the French Belote.

FASTFACTS

This Ramadan the Grand Mosque in Makkah has launched a welcome initiative for pilgrims and Umrah visitors arriving in Saudi Arabia.

The Grand Mosque has 120 areas for prayer and 12,000 containers of Zamzam water to help ensure a comfortable visit for pilgrims.

Souqs in Saudi Arabia are the best place to buy Ramadan essentials and to experience the hustle and bustle of the holy month.

Al-Balad is Jeddah’s oldest neighborhood, founded in the 7th century A.D., and is home to a plethora of some of the oldest traditional markets.

In the Kingdom’s central region, many male members of Najd families typically break their fast at their local mosque, where they arrive bearing dishes from home.




Foreign workers their fast during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan at a park in Riyadh on March 27, 2023. (AFP)

The tradition is believed to have stemmed from the area’s remoteness and harsh environment, where lower-income families found it difficult to provide for their families.

More privileged families shared their meals and distributed them to the needy as part of the holy month’s custom of helping the underprivileged.

Though it might seem slightly different today, many believe that once people sit at the table together, it does not matter what social class they belong to because they are all equal.




A Saudi man offers Muslim pilgrims Zamzam water upon their arrival in the holy city of Makkah. (AFP file)

“It didn’t matter which family or clan you belonged to. The month brings forth its blessings and we share them with our family and others,” Umm Waleed, 72, a resident of Riyadh and native of Hail, told Arab News.

“Our grandmother taught us that in order to be blessed, we had to share. It does not matter where you are. Our Islamic teachings meshed with our local traditions (have) became an essential part of our community.”

Turning to the northern region, an area close to the border with Iraq and Jordan, many households share traditions with their neighbors, focusing on large gatherings of family and friends with children serving their elders throughout the evening.

Like subya in Hijaz, camel’s milk is a staple ingredient in several of the region’s dishes, such as tarshreeb (pieces of bread soaked in stock and meat), jareesh, al-mlehiya and thareed.


ALSO READ: Makkah’s historic Ramadan cannon remembered 8 years on


Moving toward the southwestern region of the Kingdom, many families have maintained the tradition of breaking their fast at mosques and only have proper meals after evening prayers once they have returned home.

A rifle round is traditionally fired to announce the call of Maghrib prayer in the areas high in the Asir mountains.

Across Saudi Arabia, Ramadan’s Islamic traditions complement local cultures and customs as the close-knit Saudi community prides itself in honoring old ways of celebration and incorporating new ones that fit well into an ever-evolving society.

 


Saudi interior minister visits Interpol head office

Updated 01 August 2025
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Saudi interior minister visits Interpol head office

LYON, France: Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif visited Interpol headquarters in Lyon, France on Thursday where he was received by the organization’s president, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi.

During the visit, Prince Abdulaziz affirmed the Kingdom’s ongoing support for Interpol and its efforts to strengthen international cooperation in combating transnational crime.

He praised its role in supporting international security efforts and enhancing cooperation among security agencies around the world.

Interpol's current president is from the United Arab Emirates. Al-Raisi was elected at the 89th General Assembly in Istanbul, Turkiye, in November 2021. His term ends this year.

 


Saudi Arabia welcomes 1.2 million Umrah pilgrims 

Updated 01 August 2025
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Saudi Arabia welcomes 1.2 million Umrah pilgrims 

  • Number of Umrah visa holders entering Saudi Arabia this year up 30 percent from last year’s
  • Pilgrims have been able to secure Umrah permits directly through the Nusuk mobile application

JEDDAH:  Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah reported that more than 1.2 million pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom to perform Umrah since the season launched. The faithful have traveled from 109 countries worldwide, reflecting surging international interest and the Kingdom’s enhanced service capabilities for religious visitors.

Ministry data shows a significant 30 percent jump in Umrah visa holders entering Saudi Arabia this year compared to the same period last year. Visa issuances also climbed 27 percent, while more than 4,200 partnership agreements were executed between domestic Umrah service providers and international agents, bolstering the Kingdom’s capacity to accommodate the influx of pilgrims.

The Umrah season was launched with digital visa processing handled through the government’s Nusuk platform. The scheme represents the latest advancement in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to streamline religious tourism as part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s comprehensive modernization blueprint.

Pilgrims have been able to secure Umrah permits directly through the Nusuk mobile application, which functions as a centralized digital gateway for pilgrim services. The platform offers streamlined booking and permit processing, complemented by additional digital tools designed to improve the overall pilgrimage experience.
 


Focus on emotional power of movie soundtracks at Riyadh Film Music Festival

Updated 31 July 2025
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Focus on emotional power of movie soundtracks at Riyadh Film Music Festival

  • When music is played in front of an audience, the spotlight is directly on its role as a hidden narrator that expresses emotions, enhances the plot and deepens the visual experience’
  • The event explores the scores of 4 movies in particular: ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,’ ‘Back to the Future’ and ‘The Lion King’

RIYADH: The second annual Riyadh Film Music Festival began at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University’s Red Hall Theater on Wednesday. The opening night featured a live orchestral performance that blended visuals with sound as music from “Top Gun: Maverick” was performed live on stage alongside a screening of the film.

The event, which is organized by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and continues until Aug. 9, features composers, directors, filmmakers and enthusiasts from the Kingdom and beyond.

The event is attracting “diverse audiences, (providing) opportunities for local talent, and (contributing) to building a thriving cultural economy in line with Vision 2030,” said Ahmed Al-Ghaith, a live-performance advisor at the commission.

Ahmed Al-Ghaith, advisor at the RCRC. (Supplied)

Talking about the powerful effects of a live performance of a film score, he added: “When music is played in front of an audience, the spotlight is directly on its role as a hidden narrator that expresses emotions, enhances the plot and deepens the visual experience.”

He explained that the festival aims to promote an appreciation of the movie soundtrack as an art form in its own right, and encourage young talent to explore the fields of musical composition and sound production.

The Riyadh Film Music Festival is taking place this year in conjunction with the hosting in the capital of the Esports World Cup, as part of the commission’s efforts to foster cultural and artistic momentum in line with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification.

The second annual Riyadh Film Music Festival which organized by RCRC scheduled to run until August 9. (Supplied/RCRC)

The event aims to deepen the audience’s appreciation of the musical dimension in films through explorations of four movies in particular: “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” “Back to the Future” and “The Lion King.”

Each film is being screened accompanied by a live orchestral performance of its score, allowing audiences to experience the films in a new way and discover the power of music in cinematic storytelling.

The commission said the festival forms part of its work to enhance cultural and entertainment offerings for residents and visitors to the capital, while reinforcing Riyadh’s status as a global destination for arts and culture.
 


Mauritanian prime minister arrives in Madinah to visit Prophet’s Mosque

Mauritanian Prime Minister Mokhtar Ould Djay (C) arrives in Madinah on Thursday. (SPA)
Updated 31 July 2025
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Mauritanian prime minister arrives in Madinah to visit Prophet’s Mosque

RIYADH: Mauritanian Prime Minister Mokhtar Ould Djay arrived in Madinah on Thursday, Saudi Press Agency reported.

He will visit the Prophet’s Mosque in the holy city and pray inside it.


How the public and private sector are navigating AI integration in the modern workplace

Updated 01 August 2025
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How the public and private sector are navigating AI integration in the modern workplace

  • AI is transforming how governments and businesses operate, streamlining services and boosting long-term efficiency
  • Saudi Arabia is advancing fast in AI adoption, aligning with its Vision 2030 goals for digital leadership and innovation

RIYADH: As artificial intelligence transforms the modern workplace, public and private sector organizations in Saudi Arabia are leaning into its potential to revolutionize how they operate.

From automating workflows to training digital employees, AI has moved from buzzword to backbone in national efforts to modernize systems and boost efficiency.

But with rapid innovation comes a familiar hurdle — adapting without breaking what already works.

“Every country has old systems that are doing important work. They can’t get rid of them, they need to continue, so they need to find a way to have a single pane of glass that connects them,” Casey Coleman, vice president of Global Public Sector at ServiceNow, told Arab News.

That challenge is particularly acute in government institutions, where outdated IT systems often clash with modern digital tools. Legacy infrastructure, varying data formats, and bureaucratic complexity can make large-scale upgrades difficult.

Still, Saudi Arabia is making notable progress.

ServiceNow — which has operated in the Kingdom since 2011 — has helped modernize operations in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

More than 180 automated processes now support the Ministry of Justice, while an integrated portal for public-sector employees has streamlined communication and speeded up problem-solving.

The gains are real. But Coleman notes that transformation requires more than just new code.

“It’s hard to change the way that work gets done because it becomes kind of just your muscle memory,” she said. “To change that is like an athlete learning to change their golf swing or learning to change their basketball shot.”

The key, she says, is empathy. “It calls for empathizing with people and understanding their work from their perspective. It takes a human approach. It’s not just about the systems.”

Instead of replacing legacy systems outright, ServiceNow offers a way to integrate them, preserving existing structures while cutting down inefficiencies.

One major pain point is what Coleman calls “sneaker net” — employees manually switching between platforms and reentering information. Some 40 percent of productivity is lost due to these inefficiencies, she says — and likely more in the public sector.

“People who join government are there to make a difference. They’re not there to serve data between one system to another,” Coleman said.

“They’re there to help people, and by taking away the toil of the administrative work that is just a drain on our productivity, we can liberate their time to do the public-facing work.”

That liberation is also playing out on the industrial front. In one of ServiceNow’s largest partnerships, the firm is working with Saudi Aramco to modernize its operations safely using “digital twins” — virtual models of physical systems.

The approach allows engineers to simulate changes at oil refining plants before implementation. “ServiceNow has taken some part of the value chain in helping those companies to make safe changes to their systems and safe upgrades and modernization,” said Coleman.

This year, the company opened its first regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia, cementing its long-term commitment to a market it views as digitally mature and globally influential.

“Saudi Arabia has a very clear strategy, and that’s important,” Saif Mashat, area vice president for ServiceNow in the Middle East and Africa, told Arab News.

“Saudi Arabia is part of the G20, one of the biggest economies in the region, one of the biggest economies in the world. Saudi Arabia is a very influential country globally, and is very, very advanced when it comes to the digital era.”

Private tech leaders are also seeing an acceleration in AI adoption across the Kingdom.

According to IBM’s regional vice president Ayman Al-Rashed, more than 70 percent of CEOs in Saudi Arabia have already created entirely new AI-based roles — a higher figure than the global average.

“These are jobs that didn’t exist last year. These are new jobs,” he said. “This shows you that there’s a lot of interest in KSA, more than elsewhere around the globe, because the global average is between 50 and 60 percent.”

Al-Rashed explained that IBM has automated 95 percent of its internal HR functions, slashing costs by 40 percent — savings equivalent to $3.5 billion in productivity gains. That same tech, he said, is now being offered to clients.

“We came up with something we called the ‘watsonx Orchestrate,’” said Al-Rashed. “That’s a lot of agents, assistants, and tools. There are actually more than 80 enterprise applications out there, and they’re all out of the box. You can immediately go and use them and have the same experience.”

One standout example is “AskHR,” a virtual assistant that helps IBM staff navigate complex tasks like creating job requisitions or scheduling interviews.

“I used AskHR when I joined IBM. It was great. I always felt that someone was talking to me, but it was just AI,” said Al-Rashed.

These shifts align closely with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan, which prioritizes digital transformation and workforce upskilling as key pillars of national development.

“What we’ve done is we’ve looked at our operations in HR, and we wanted to do things such as enhance the efficiency of it, reduce the cost of it, free up the time of the employees themselves,” said Al-Rashed.

The message is clear: As Saudi Arabia races toward its digital future, the integration of AI is not just a competitive advantage — it is a national imperative.

For now, success lies not just in smart software, but in making technology work with, not against, the systems already in place.