RIYADH: Small and medium-sized businesses are showcasing their products at the Ramadan Market in The Boulevard in the Hittin district of Riyadh.
The market runs until Saturday, April 8, and is open from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Ramadan markets, which are commonly known as bazaars or souqs, are set up specifically at this time of the year and offer a unique shopping experience that is centered around the holy month’s themes, such as spirituality and community.
The bazaars offer an event at night after a long day of fasting. They are a vibrant and exciting part of Ramadan, bringing people together in familiar settings.
The markets are bustling with activity, and offer a variety of food, clothing, and other goods that help reflect spirituality and culture during the holy month.
Rashid Al-Dossary, an antique and sabha trader, has lanterns and rope lights that reflect on the hundreds of sabhas on display.
His business has been thriving in Riyadh’s Souq Al-Zal, one of the city’s oldest traditional markets.
Al-Dossary told Arab News: “I have been in that old market for years and people started calling me the mayor because I am known to buy the most antiques in the souq.”
The Ramadan Market also features booths that sell products to stir feelings of nostalgia in the older generation, and provide a glimpse into the past for younger shoppers.
One of the booths is Turki Al-Mousa’s which is set up as an old mini-market.
Al-Mousa said his booth gives a look into the development of games and toys, and he offers old collectibles and artifacts.
He told Arab News: “We have the first color TV and it is fully functional, albeit outdated, Atari, instant Kodak cameras, and the old Saudi phone.”
He added that the booth was a look back at the life of busy old neighborhoods in Riyadh.
The atmosphere becomes more lively in the market as the night draws on, with traditional local music and social gatherings commonplace.
Visitors enjoy a hot meal as they take a break from viewing the treasures of the Ramadan Market.
Fatimah Al-Bassri, owner and chef at Om Al-Ghala Kitchen, told Arab News: “Balila and jareesh are among my most famous Saudi dishes in demand in Ramadan.
“Everyone thinks it is difficult to prepare Saudi jareesh, but it is way easier and more delicious than any other dish. Just put all the ingredients in a pot and bring the mixture to a boil over low heat for about four hours.”
Other small businesses in the market include one run by Abdulmajeed, who started his coffee trading online in 2016.
He said: “Aside from our Saudi and Turkish coffees, we offer wheat grain coffee as an alternative, for those with health issues that keep them from drinking regular coffee.”
Ramadan Market brings communities together for retail at night
https://arab.news/527u3
Ramadan Market brings communities together for retail at night
- The market runs until Saturday, April 8, and is open from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
- Ramadan markets, which are commonly known as bazaars or souqs, are set up specifically at this time of the year and offer a unique shopping experience that is centered around the holy month’s themes
Saudi Shoura Council speaker participates in Rome conference
- Event aims to build bridges, promote mutual understanding
ROME: The Second Parliamentary Conference on Interreligious Dialogue — titled “Strengthening Trust and Embracing Hope for our Common Future” — has started in Rome, with the participation of the Saudi delegation headed by Shoura Council Speaker Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh. The event is being attended by heads of parliaments from around the world.
Lorenzo Fontana, the president of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy, praised the body’s significant and vital role, stressing the importance of the conference in building bridges and promoting mutual understanding.
Pesticides workshop held in AlUla
- The workshop was part of a series of different guidance programs and workshops implemented by the National Center for Palms and Dates throughout the year in many regions of the Kingdom
ALULA: A workshop, titled Safe Handling of Palm and Date Pest Pesticides, was held on Friday in the AlUla Governorate. The event, which was organized by the National Center for Palms and Dates, in collaboration with the Royal Commission for AlUla, took place in the agricultural sector of the commission’s headquarters.
The workshop targeted farm owners, agricultural workers, and those interested in the sector. It aimed to raise awareness about safe pesticide use while enhancing efficiency in agricultural pest control in a way that improves production quality while ensuring environmental safety.
The workshop was part of a series of different guidance programs and workshops implemented by the National Center for Palms and Dates throughout the year in many regions of the Kingdom. They bid to support the agricultural sector’s development and enhance sustainability practices.
KSrelief distributes shelter aid in Somalia’s Togdheer region
- The assistance will be distributed in cooperation with the UN World Health Organization to 45 healthcare facilities in northwestern Syria, based on field-identified needs
TOGDHEER: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center recently distributed 1,030 pieces of clothing, 475 shelter bags, and 20 tents to several camps in the Togdheer region of Somalia, benefiting 1,525 families and 9,150 individuals. The assistance comes as part of a 2025 initiative to distribute shelter aid to displaced persons in the African country.
Earlier, three relief trucks provided by the Saudi aid agency arrived on Wednesday in the town of Sarmada in Syria’s Idlib governorate, carrying 20 tonnes of medical aid.
The assistance will be distributed in cooperation with the UN World Health Organization to 45 healthcare facilities in northwestern Syria, based on field-identified needs. The aid supports frontline medical teams in underserved areas, benefiting about 150,000 people.
Elsewhere, the agency distributed 3,000 cartons of dates to families in need in the Shabwa governorate of Yemen, benefiting 18,000 individuals.
Masam Project achieves massive success in Yemen
- KSrelief has implemented 3,438 diverse humanitarian projects across 107 countries, valued at over $7 billion, since its launch in May 2015
RIYADH: Masam, a project launched by the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, has achieved a significant milestone by clearing 67,585,167 sq. meters and removing 500,000 explosives from Yemeni lands since its launch in June 2018.
Items removed include anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, unexploded ordnance, and explosive devices indiscriminately planted to harm civilians.
Demining efforts have dramatically reduced casualties — and allowed displaced people and farmers to return and resume cultivation — earning widespread praise from the UN and international organizations.
The agency has also initiated the Artificial Limbs Centers Project in several Yemeni cities, providing prosthetics and aiding physical rehabilitation to those injured by explosives.
The Masam Project stands as a vital contribution in enabling a safe and dignified life for Yemenis.
KSrelief has implemented 3,438 diverse humanitarian projects across 107 countries, valued at over $7 billion, since its launch in May 2015.
Saudi foreign minister arrives in Istanbul for OIC meeting
ISTANBUL: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, arrived in Istanbul on Friday to take part in the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The high-level meeting, to be hosted by Turkiye, will see foreign ministers from OIC member states convene on Saturday to discuss avenues for strengthening joint multilateral cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The agenda also includes deliberations on regional developments and their broader international implications, SPA added.
The gathering comes amid heightened tensions across parts of the Islamic world, with participants expected to address key geopolitical challenges and reaffirm the OIC’s collective stance on pressing issues.
