The traditional Bedouin coat is a Saudi’s best friend in the cold December nights

1 / 3
Niclas Trouve, ambassador of Sweden to Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen, tweeted recently: ‘Ready for a winter night in the desert of Al-Jouf with my new warm farwa.’ (Twitter photo)
Short Url
Updated 14 December 2020
Follow

The traditional Bedouin coat is a Saudi’s best friend in the cold December nights

  • Farwas won’t give you the cold shoulder in winter

RIYADH: As the nation moves into the winter season, many Saudis have begun packing away the sundresses and shorts and reaching for their sweaters and thermals. But one of the most highly coveted articles of winter clothing is the traditional Bedouin farwa.

Farwas are believed to have originated from Syria and Levant where Bedouins would wear them during the cold winter months.
The long, sweeping, fur-lined overcoat has now established a firm foothold in countries all over the Gulf.
It is a staple in many Saudi households, particularly in the northern and central regions where the biting desert cold can reach surprisingly low temperatures.
Farwas range in material from cheaper offerings, lined with synthetic fur with a protective cloth overlay of linen, velvet, or cotton, to pricier options, such as those made with real fur or hand-dyed sheep’s wool, which can set you back more than $250.
Ahmad Alsharif, a resident of Turaif in the northern province, told Arab News that, living in a town where the average winter temperature can be as low as -5C, he considers a farwa an essential household item.
“During winter, people in the cities wear farwas both at home and when going out. For the Bedouins who live outside of the city, the farwa is even more of a necessity, given how cold it gets in the desert,” he said.
Alsharif said that a real fur farwa can be considered a luxury item or a statement piece among residents in the north. “They make very popular gifts for friends and loved ones,” he said. One of the most favored types, and the most expensive due to its soft touch and light weight, is the karakul, made from the fur of fetal lambs, commonly known as broadtail, or of new newborn lambs. Similar but cheaper is the “Persian” farwa, which is less dense.

FASTFACT

Farwa is a staple in many Saudi households, particularly in the northern and central regions where the biting desert cold can reach surprisingly low temperatures.

Other types include the Iraqi farwa or “Mosuliya Iraqia,” a native of northern Iraq and one of the more expensive types that could reach up to over $1,000. Similarly, the hand embroidered Syrian farwa could reach up to $400 and can take up to 2 weeks to be designed and made.
Faisal Althunayan, a college student from Riyadh, said that getting to show off his collection of farwas was his favorite part of the winter season.
“My friends and I are avid campers; in the winter, we go for a kashta (traditional Saudi camping trip) almost every weekend. Sitting around the fire, grilling burgers and kebabs on an open flame, and huddled up against the cold while bundled up in our furs is my idea of heaven on earth,” he said.




Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb

Althunayan says that due to the relative shortness of the winter season in Saudi Arabia, every second of cold is one that he appreciates.
“Our winters aren’t long, so we take advantage of them when we can. And despite what most people think, desert cold is actually some of the worst you can experience because the cold is very dry. Hits you right in the bone. A farwa is really helpful during those moments,” he said.
Though the farwa’s purpose remained the same, the styles have become more versatile as more city dwellers have taken to them and designers are adding their personal touch using leather, fabrics and ornaments for their designs.
The traditional-looking farwa, which is usually a nondescript black or brown with minimal decoration, is turned into stunning, modernized pieces for both men and women to flaunt.
Bright colors, delicate trims and decorations, and even shorter, jacket-like farwas have all found their way into mainstream culture.
Hana Abu Said, a Saudi abaya designer, said that farwas were one of her favorite things to design.
“There’s so much you can do with them. The challenge lies in making sure the article is functional as well as beautiful. It has to do what a farwa is supposed to do first and foremost — keep you warm. As long as the purpose is achieved, it can look however you want it to look,” she said.
“Some women choose to wear a farwa instead of an abaya during the winter. And sometimes, with the excess fur, I can trim winter abayas for those times when the weather is cool, but not yet cold enough for a full-on farwa.”


Sudanese culture in spotlight at Jeddah event

Updated 5 sec ago
Follow

Sudanese culture in spotlight at Jeddah event

  • Passport to the World runs until May 24
  • The event previously placed the spotlight on Filipino, Bangladeshi, and Indian cultures

JEDDAH: Passport to the World, which is taking place in Jeddah until May 24, is offering visitors an immersive look at Sudan’s cultural heritage through live folk performances, traditional dances, and interactive workshops that highlight customs, celebrations, and community rituals.

The event also features a food corner serving authentic Sudanese dishes, desserts, and traditional drinks that reflect the country’s hospitality.

Guests are also given an opportunity to wear traditional Sudanese clothing and explore the meanings behind its regional colors and patterns.

Organized by the General Entertainment Authority, the event supports efforts to showcase the cultural diversity of expatriate communities in the Kingdom while promoting values of coexistence through interactive cultural programming.

The event previously placed the spotlight on Filipino, Bangladeshi, and Indian cultures.

The Sudanese showcase is its conclusion and has attracted strong public interest. A previous edition in Alkhobar was also well received.
 


Saudi minister of municipalities and housing concludes official visit to Kuwait

Updated 10 min ago
Follow

Saudi minister of municipalities and housing concludes official visit to Kuwait

  • Guidelines adopted at meeting of GCC’s ministers

KUWAIT CITY: Saudi Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail has concluded his official visit to Kuwait, during which he headed the Kingdom’s delegation at the 23rd meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s housing ministers, which included participation from the relevant ministers of member states and was attended by the secretary-general of the GCC.

Several technical guidelines were adopted at the meeting, most notably the Value Engineering Guide for GCC Housing Projects, which was prepared by Riyadh as a step to enhance spending efficiency while improving the quality of outcomes in Gulf housing schemes.


Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee holds talks on Gaza with French foreign minister in Paris

Updated 13 min 40 sec ago
Follow

Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee holds talks on Gaza with French foreign minister in Paris

  • Delegation includes Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Jordanian and Egyptian counterparts Ayman Safadi and Badr Abdelatty
  • Discussions focus on coordinated international efforts to end war in Gaza, ensure the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid and halt ongoing Israeli violations

PARIS: Senior members of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee held talks with French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris on Friday about the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip and efforts to advance peace in the region.

The delegation that visited the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs was led by the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and included his Jordanian and Egyptian counterparts Ayman Safadi and Badr Abdelatty.

Their discussions with Barrot focused on coordinated international efforts to end the war in Gaza, ensure the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid, and halt ongoing violations by Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people and the occupied territories, breaches that have been described as contraventions of international law and humanitarian norms, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

They also talked about ways in which joint diplomatic action might be intensified to promote a just and lasting peace, with an emphasis on the implementation of a two-state solution in line with international resolutions.

Other topics included the preparations for a high-level international conference on the two-state solution, which is scheduled to take place at the UN headquarters in New York in June and will be jointly chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.


Saudi fund unveils handicraft investment accelerators

Updated 47 min 31 sec ago
Follow

Saudi fund unveils handicraft investment accelerators

  • Nama’ initiative launched in partnership with Ministry of Culture and Quality of Life Program

RIYADH: Nama’ Accelerators, a pioneering initiative to foster the growth of cultural enterprises, has been launched by the Saudi Cultural Development Fund in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the Quality of Life Program.

The project, featuring a comprehensive training and development program, will include several sector-specific tracks. The first of these is the flagship handicrafts track, with the aim of amplifying the economic, social and creative impact of the 2025 — Year of Handicrafts initiative.

It targets micro, small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to expand across 11 diverse fields within the sector, including pottery, textiles and woodworking.

Benefits on offer include specialized training in modern craft techniques, intensive workshops on marketing and business management, and improved market access both locally and internationally. It also provides financial incentives to support sustainable growth and expansion.

Through this inaugural track, Nama’ Accelerators intends to transform the Kingdom’s rich artisanal heritage into sustainable economic ventures that foster community development, encourage innovation within the handicraft industries and enrich the national identity.

The Cultural Development Fund seeks to advance the handicrafts sector by maximizing its economic and social impact, fostering innovation across its diverse fields, and cultivating an entrepreneurial ecosystem that nurtures creativity and growth.

The Cultural Development Fund (CDF), in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the Quality of Life Program — a key component of Saudi Vision 2030—has unveiled “Nama’ Accelerators.” (Supplied)

Nama’ Accelerators represents a strategic milestone in the fund’s ambition to position itself as the financial center of excellence for the cultural sector. As a key financial enabler for entrepreneurs and enterprises, it fuels the sustainable and profitable growth of their ventures. 

The initiative also strengthens the fund’s collaboration with key players across the cultural ecosystem, supporting its continued progress toward fulfilling the objectives of the National Culture Strategy within Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 framework.

Khalid Al-Baker, CEO of the Quality of Life Program, told Arab News: “Promoting and sustaining national culture hinges on transforming the cultural sector into an economically productive industry. This transformation involves expanding cultural offerings — including cultural days, events, and activities — and streamlining the permit issuance process for cultural projects.”

He added that, as part of the Quality of Life Program’s efforts to fulfill Vision 2030’s objectives: “We have implemented programs targeting these key pathways, including the launch of Nama’ Accelerators.” 

Nama’ Accelerators will actively elevate the role of handicrafts in society, transforming them from museum artifacts into a vibrant, economically sustainable sector. The initiative promotes creativity and innovation while safeguarding a living cultural heritage for current and future generations, Al-Baker said.
 


Saudi Signage Expo has grown to meet demands of an evolving market 

Updated 23 May 2025
Follow

Saudi Signage Expo has grown to meet demands of an evolving market 

  • Sustainability a key pillar as exhibitors unveil products designed with recyclability and circular economy principles in mind

RIYADH: The Saudi Signage and Labelling Expo, the Middle East’s leading event for the digital, print, graphic and imaging sectors, has grown significantly to meet the demand of an evolving signage sector in the Kingdom meeting circular economy principles.

Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the expo held at Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center from May 20-22, Mutaz Al Mazari, event director at dmg events, organizer of the expo, said: “We are proud to bring the expo to Riyadh as the largest event for signage, labelling, paper and packaging industries in the Middle East.

“Since its launch last year, it has grown significantly to meet the demand of a rapidly evolving signage sector in the Kingdom.”

With a bigger exhibition space and more than 150 exhibitors from more than 15 countries, this year’s expo offered opportunities for buyers to connect directly with suppliers, manufacturers and solution providers in Saudi Arabia’s booming signage, labelling and packaging industries, supporting the country’s Vision 2030 for economic diversification and sustainability regulations, Al Mazari said.

Mutaz Al Mazari, Event Director, dmg events. (AN photo by Rashid Hassan)

The event also supported the region’s broader ambitions by encouraging knowledge exchange, promoting local production capabilities and enabling new commercial partnerships.

Visitors this year discovered a wide range of solutions tailored to the Kingdom’s rapidly growing sectors, including retail, healthcare, entertainment and more.

“With Saudi Arabia’s signage market projected to reach $492 million by 2027, the demand for high-quality, future-ready visual communication tools has never been greater,” Al Mazari said.

From procurement professionals to systems integrators and business owners, the expo provided direct access to the latest digital signage systems, labelling solutions and printing technologies to meet evolving consumer needs.

Attendees gained valuable insights through live demos, engaged with new products and services, as well as know-how of systems and solutions that would help them make informed decisions for upcoming projects and future investments, all aligned with the broader Vision 2030 goals.

This year’s expo was much bigger than the launch year. Building on the positive response from 2024, live demonstrations this year played a major role. Additionally, features such as car wrapping and the debut of Label It, a fast-paced labelling competition offered hands-on experiences and tailored networking opportunities beyond traditional exhibitions.

On supporting Saudi Vision 2030 goals, particularly in economic diversification, local production and sustainable development, Al Mazari said: “Saudi Signage and Labelling Expo and Saudi Paper and Packaging Expo facilitated the growth of the domestic signage and printing sector supporting the Kingdom’s economic diversification strategies under Vision 2030.

“The events connected international solution providers with local manufacturers, distributors and end-users seeking to localize supply chains and expand their services,” he added.

The event spotlighted innovations in sustainable printing, recyclable packaging and energy-efficient signage systems, all aligning with the country’s long-term environmental goals, Al Mazari noted.

As Vision 2030 accelerates investments in smart cities, retail infrastructure and tourism destinations, the technologies on display at the expo will help businesses meet modern design and communication standards while lowering their environmental footprint, he said.

Moreover, sustainability was one of the key pillars of this year’s event. Across both signage and packaging segments, exhibitors unveiled products designed with resource efficiency, recyclability and circular economy principles in mind.

With a key focus on paper recycling and waste equipment, the product sectors highlighted a shift toward greener, smarter production.

“We saw a noticeable shift towards digital signage systems that reduce material usage and extend product lifecycle value, an important step for businesses aiming to move away from traditional print-heavy methods. Exhibitors such as Caravan and Alyanabie Company for Advertising Manufacturing, Gulf Sparrows Trading Company – BlueRhine and National Signage Industrial Company for Energy Efficiency responded to this demand by showcasing technologies that combine sustainability with long-term performance, helping businesses stay aligned with evolving regulations and customer expectations,” Al Mazari said.