Ramadan nights come alive in charming historic Jeddah

Traditional markets and public squares in historic Jeddah become hives of activity in Ramadan, drawing locals, residents and tourists alike to Al-Balad district for seasonal shopping. (Supplied)
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Traditional markets and public squares in historic Jeddah become hives of activity in Ramadan, drawing locals, residents and tourists alike to Al-Balad district for seasonal shopping. (Supplied)
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Updated 22 March 2025
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Ramadan nights come alive in charming historic Jeddah

Ramadan nights come alive in charming historic Jeddah
  • Visitors browse bustling markets and tour historical sites
  • Workshops in Arabic calligraphy, pottery and other crafts

JEDDAH: In the holy month of Ramadan, Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad district has come alive with a unique blend of culture, traditional crafts and authentic delicacies.

Its festival running throughout the month also highlights the historical significance of Al-Balad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The offerings include workshops in Arabic calligraphy, pottery, and other crafts showcasing the artistic legacy of the Hijaz region.

Children can enjoy interactive entertainment designed as an introduction to Saudi Arabia’s culture and heritage.

During a tour, Arab News spoke to several visitors who outlined the charms of the old city.

Salem Al-Harthi, a Saudi citizen, expressed his admiration for Al-Balad, calling it an “unparalleled destination” during Ramadan.

“The historic charm and festive energy here make it the perfect place to experience the essence of the holy month,” he said.

Hamad Al-Shemmari from Hail, who is visiting to perform Umrah with his family, shared his excitement: “These narrow alleys and winding streets transport us to another era.

“The ambiance, the food, everything about this place makes Ramadan special.”

First-time visitor Mahmoud Al-Nori from Syria was captivated by the area’s architectural beauty and vibrancy. “I had heard about Jeddah’s charm but experiencing it in Ramadan is something else.

“One night here is simply not enough to take it all in.”

One of the festival’s most beloved attractions is its street food. After evening prayers, hundreds of vendors set up stalls, wearing traditional attire and singing folk songs to entice visitors to sample local delicacies.

Among them is Muath Al-Bukiri, a young entrepreneur who, along with his friends, launched a food stall serving balila (boiled chickpeas) and chopped liver.

“We wanted to do something meaningful this Ramadan, and this has been an amazing experience,” he said, noting the popularity of these dishes among young and old.

Al-Balad has become a hub for families looking to celebrate Ramadan in an authentic setting.

Abdulaziz Al-Ahmadi, 54, enjoys bringing his family to stroll through the historic streets, sharing stories of the past. “This place connects us to our roots.

“It’s where our ancestors lived, and now, we experience Ramadan in the same streets they once did.”

A popular gathering spot is Al-Hazazi Yard, where dozens of traditional food stalls create a lively evening scene. Residents from across Jeddah gather in what has become an annual tradition to relish the festive atmosphere.

Mohammed bin Zagir told Arab News: “Visiting Al-Balad to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of families, the delicious flavors of kebdah and balila, and the cool evening breeze has become an annual tradition for my family and me.

“Here, you can truly experience the essence of Ramadan, in the very place where our ancestors once lived. It takes us back in time, allowing us to witness the transformation we live in today from every perspective.”

The Ramadan season in historic Jeddah plays a crucial role in supporting local entrepreneurs and artisans.

Heritage markets provide small and medium businesses with a platform to showcase their crafts, from handmade goods to culinary specialties.

Under the supervision of the Historic Jeddah District Program and the Ministry of Culture, the Ramadan festival continues to gain in popularity, reportedly drawing more than a million visitors in its first week.


Saudi surgeons separate Syrian conjoined twins in 8-hour operation

Saudi surgeons on Sunday separated Syrian conjoined twins Celine and Eline in an eight-hour operation in Riyadh. (SPA)
Saudi surgeons on Sunday separated Syrian conjoined twins Celine and Eline in an eight-hour operation in Riyadh. (SPA)
Updated 27 July 2025
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Saudi surgeons separate Syrian conjoined twins in 8-hour operation

Saudi surgeons on Sunday separated Syrian conjoined twins Celine and Eline in an eight-hour operation in Riyadh. (SPA)
  • Celine and Eline, who are 17 months old, were conjoined at the lower chest and abdomen
  • The operation was the 66th procedure under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program

RIYADH: Saudi surgeons on Sunday separated Syrian conjoined twins Celine and Eline in an eight-hour operation at Riyadh’s King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital.

“It’s an indescribable feeling. Truly, it’s a feeling beyond words,” said Abdulnaeim Al-Shubli the twins’ father.

“Thanks to Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah and the specialized medical team. I am deeply thankful. From now on, we will move from better to even better," he added.

"Saudi Arabia is our second home. It’s like we came to be with our own family and daughters.”

Celine and Eline, who are 17 months old, were conjoined at the lower chest and abdomen.

They were born in Februaty 2024 at Rafik Hariri Hospital in Beirut as part of a triplet birth. Their brother, Sanad, was born healthy and unjoined.

The family fled Aleppo in 2013 after their home was destroyed during the war and have lived in Lebanon since.

The twins were medically evacuated to Riyadh in December 2024 to receive specialized care. Al-Shubli said they underwent four months of preparation before surgery.

“They were under 24-hour supervision by a consulting medical team. The girls received complete care throughout that period, and after that they told me the surgery would proceed.”

The operation was the 66th procedure under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program.

It is also the fourth separation of Syrian conjoined twins to be performed as part of the initiative, which has treated cases from 27 countries since its launch in 1990.

Hussein Abdulaziz, charge d’affaires at the Syrian Embassy in Riyadh, said the procedure was part of the Kingdom’s broader humanitarian efforts to assist Syrian families in need of medical care.

He said: “Cases like these are medically complex and difficult, and they require thorough study. From a humanitarian angle, such surgeries come with very high financial costs, but the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through its humanitarian and charitable work, lifts this burden entirely off the shoulders of the children’s families.”

Abdulaziz also highlighted the work of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in Syria.

“It’s well known that KSrelief has been working in Syria for the past 14 years. After the liberation, the center expanded its operations to cover all Syrian provinces, most recently providing support to families affected by the wildfires in Latakia province on the Syrian coast,” he said.

He added that Saudi Arabia’s volunteer medical program has carried out nearly 1,300 surgeries in Syria in recent years, alongside the wide-ranging provision of food and medical aid.


Hail festival honors Saudi craft, culture

The 30-day Beit Hail Festival at Aja Park offered a mix of cultural, artistic, and heritage experiences.
The 30-day Beit Hail Festival at Aja Park offered a mix of cultural, artistic, and heritage experiences.
Updated 27 July 2025
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Hail festival honors Saudi craft, culture

The 30-day Beit Hail Festival at Aja Park offered a mix of cultural, artistic, and heritage experiences.
  • More than 95,000 visitors explore rich traditions, Thamudic art, handmade treasures, folk performances at Aja Park

RIYADH: A heritage festival in Hail, northwestern Saudi Arabia, has concluded after attracting more than 95,000 visitors from across the Kingdom, Gulf region, and other international destinations.

The 30-day Beit Hail Festival at Aja Park offered a mix of cultural, artistic, and heritage experiences, running daily from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The event celebrated cultural heritage through handicrafts, traditional dishes, and Thamudic inscriptions, the SPA added.

It featured an art pavilion showcasing notable artists, a resin art exhibit, folk theater, heritage-inspired residential models, and performances reflecting the culture of Asir province.

Exhibits gave younger generations insight into how ancestors transformed natural materials into functional items, highlighting the ingenuity of Saudi heritage.

More than 40 activities allowed visitors to explore traditional crafts such as wickerwork, sadu weaving, crochet, hand-woven textiles, and Najdi and Hail-style door making.

Other highlights included traditional clothing, Thamudic embroidery, wood and leather beading, fiber arts, resin art, and soap making. The festival also served as a platform for local artisans to present their work directly to the public.

Several government leaders visited the event, praising its efforts to revive memories of traditional life and showcase historical methods of meeting daily needs.

Mauritanian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mokhtar Ould Dahi also toured the festival, exploring stands and pavilions featuring local craftsmanship.

He expressed admiration for the crafts on display, including wickerwork, sadu weaving, hand-woven textiles, and fiber arts, and commended the cultural performances for reflecting Saudi heritage.

Separately, EU Ambassador to the Kingdom Christophe Farnaud visited the festival, praising the displays of palm frond weaving, sadu weaving, handmade textiles, traditional wooden doors, resin art, crochet, Thamudic embroidery, woodcraft, and leatherwork.

Both ambassadors attended traditional folk performances, including the Saudi Ardah (sword dance), the Hail Samri (drum-accompanied poetry), and various artistic presentations from Asir region.


Manga Productions empowers Saudi voice actors with dubbing contest

Manga Productions has launched a dubbing competition to spotlight Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural and linguistic diversity.
Manga Productions has launched a dubbing competition to spotlight Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural and linguistic diversity.
Updated 27 July 2025
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Manga Productions empowers Saudi voice actors with dubbing contest

Manga Productions has launched a dubbing competition to spotlight Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural and linguistic diversity.
  • The initiative aims to create audio content that reflects Saudi society by celebrating its rich regional dialects
  • Contest features scenes from the hit animated series “Asateer2: Future’s Folktales,” which has gained international acclaim

JEDDAH: Manga Productions, a subsidiary of the Misk Foundation, has launched the Saudi Dialects Dubbing Contest to empower local voice talent and highlight the Kingdom’s linguistic diversity.

The initiative aims to create audio content that reflects Saudi society by celebrating its rich regional dialects, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The contest features scenes from the hit animated series “Asateer2: Future’s Folktales,” which has gained international acclaim with more than 150 million views across five continents and eight platforms.

Participants are invited to dub using dialects from regions such as AlUla, Hail, Makkah, Jeddah, the Eastern Province, Qassim, Asir, Tabuk, and Jazan.

The four-week contest will run through digital challenges, with active public participation on social media. The company aims to train aspiring voice actors under the guidance of its professional team.

Outstanding contestants will be invited to join future Manga Productions projects, further boosting local creative talent.

Sara Waldaddah, head of the creative department at Manga Productions, said the initiative aligns with the company’s mission to support national talent and highlight Saudi Arabia’s cultural and linguistic richness.

She said that scenes from “Asateer2: Future’s Folktales” are ideal for the contest, as the series celebrates Saudi heritage through stories that reflect national values and encourage voice acting in native dialects.

Waldaddah added that the goal is to transform this linguistic diversity into a creative force that reinforces the Kingdom’s cultural identity and shares it with regional and global audiences.

Abdulaziz Al-Muaina, head of marketing and communications at Manga Productions, highlighted the Kingdom’s rich geographical and cultural diversity reflected in its many dialects.

He said that the contest aims to showcase this diversity by providing a platform for Saudi voice talents to creatively celebrate the Kingdom’s beauty and generosity.

Participants are invited to submit voice recordings in local Saudi dialects by choosing a scene and uploading entries at saudidubbing.com. Use of AI tools for voice generation or editing is strictly prohibited to ensure authentic submissions.


Saudi authorities crack down on tourism violations

Saudi authorities crack down on tourism violations
Updated 27 July 2025
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Saudi authorities crack down on tourism violations

Saudi authorities crack down on tourism violations
  • Over the past month, inspection teams carried out around 2,750 field visits

RIYADH: The Ministry of Tourism intensified inspections targeting tourism service providers across key summer destinations in cities and regions throughout the Kingdom.

Over the past month, inspection teams carried out around 2,750 field visits, detecting some 170 violations, according to a Saudi Press Agency report.

These visits aimed to ensure that tourism entities are licensed by the ministry, safeguarding the rights of both domestic and international tourists as part of the Saudi Summer program.

In Asir, more than 420 inspections uncovered over 25 violations. In Taif, more than 360 visits revealed around 25 violations.

Jeddah recorded over 1,680 visits, revealing more than 110 violations. In the Baha region, more than 280 inspections resulted in five violations.

The ministry emphasized that all tourism service providers — including travel agencies, consultancy offices, and event organizers — must comply with tourism regulations and bylaws to protect tourists’ rights. It also urged the public to report any concerns about tourism services via the unified call center at 930.


Saudi scouts explore culture, skills in Portugal

Saudi scouts explore culture, skills in Portugal
Updated 27 July 2025
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Saudi scouts explore culture, skills in Portugal

Saudi scouts explore culture, skills in Portugal
  • The global event brings together more than 7,100 scouts from 118 scout associations

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Scout Association delegation is participating in the 16th World Scout Moot, taking place in Portugal until Aug. 3.

The global event brings together more than 7,100 scouts from 118 scout associations, according to a Saudi Press Agency report.

The Saudi delegation took part in the Paths program — an initiative featuring exploratory journeys across various regions of Portugal, designed to enrich participants’ cultural awareness and knowledge.

It also participated in several training workshops focused on building both individual and team-based skills, the SPA added.

In the coming days, the delegation will move to the main camp near the city of Porto, where the Saudi scouts will engage in five days of activities celebrating Portuguese heritage.

This participation reflects the association’s commitment to empowering Saudi scouts to represent the Kingdom on the international stage, expand their global presence, and strengthen their leadership capabilities.

The World Scout Moot is held every four years and is designed for young people aged 18 to 25, while those aged 26 and above can participate as members of the International Service Team.