Qassim region produces 35% of Saudi Arabia’s dates

RIYADH: For more than three decades, Saudi visual artist Ibrahim Al-Almaai has devoted his time to documenting Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, a vibrant, centuries-old art form traditionally painted by women on the walls of homes across the Asir region.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Al-Almaai emphasized that for the past 33 years, not a week has passed without him visiting a village in the eastern, western, northern, or central parts of the Asir region.

His mission: to seek out the remnants of this heritage art in homes, many of which have been lost to time and weather.

Despite the challenges, he has documented more than 1,200 variations of Al-Qatt patterns and colors.

The traditional art, known as Al-Qatt, Al-Katba, or Al-Zayan, received international reognition in 2017 when it was registered on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

But long before, Al-Almaai had been tirelessly cataloging the artwork, oftenn navigating harsh conditions, including dilapidated buildings and the threat of snakes and poisonous insects, to reach the artworks.

Almost every visit revealed intricate designs made using natural pigments sourced from the surrounding environment.

He explained to SPA that there are four key components of a typical heritage home adorned with Al-Qatt. 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, winding rhythmically across the walls.

Al-Khatmah or Al-Akhtam (the Seal) are a form of visual closure at the end of a design.

Al-Qatt (the Lines) are the horizontal strokes layered beneath the primary art, referred to as Al-Katba (the Writing), Al-Naqsh (the Inscription), or Al-Zayan (the Adornment) depending on the local dialect.

Al-Almaai’s lifelong dedication underscores the importance of preserving Saudi Arabia’s artistic and cultural legacy — one painted wall at a time.

JEDDAH: King Abdulaziz University, through its Faculty of Architecture and Planning, has completed a virtual tourism project using geomatics technologies to deliver interactive tours of key tourist destinations.

The initiative enhances the visibility of cultural and heritage sites, and reflects the growing use of technologies to collect, analyze and interpret spatial data, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Geomatics — an interdisciplinary field combining geography, engineering, geographic information systems and remote sensing — supports informed decision-making across various sectors.

The project uses virtual tourism to help position the Kingdom as a competitive global destination, according to the SPA.

It supports the digital transformation of the tourism sector in line with Vision 2030 by using advanced technologies to create immersive experiences that allow users to explore cultural and heritage landmarks remotely.

It also aligns with the Kingdom’s progress in virtual tourism, supported by the Ministry of Tourism’s digital strategy launched in February 2022.

The strategy includes nine programs and 31 initiatives aimed at improving the tourist experience through virtual and augmented reality technologies.

Rayan Sahahiri, a faculty member in the geomatics department and project supervisor, said the initiative enhances spatial analysis of historic buildings and provides an interactive platform for virtual exploration of architectural features along the Al-Alawi axis in historic Jeddah, known as Al-Balad.

He added that the project promotes cultural awareness and could help attract investment to the tourism sector, the SPA reported.

Sahahiri pointed to historic Jeddah as a fitting example, with its many heritage buildings recognized by UNESCO.

The project offers virtual tours of sites along the Al-Alawi axis, highlighting the details of traditional Islamic architecture.

Abdullah Al-Attas, also a faculty member in the geomatics department, expressed pride in the project, which was developed by Saudi geomatics graduates Abdulrahman Kateb and Mohammed Al-Marouei.

He said that beyond digital documentation, the project aims to build a comprehensive information network to support tourism investment.

It seeks to attract both local and international investors, and contribute to the development of a digital tourism ecosystem aligned with the Kingdom’s digital transformation goals.