The General Authority for Culture organized a number of cultural events in Al-Ahsa last week. The activities include workshops, art exhibitions and traditional Al-Ahsa music.
These events are part of the Kingdom’s efforts to promote Saudi culture and tourism. Vision 2030 envisages transformation of Saudi Arabia into a local and global tourism hub.
Al-Ahsa was recently named Arab Tourism Capital for 2019 by the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism. Al-Ahsa is also home to the largest oasis in the Kingdom, which has had human settlements from the Neolithic times. It is one of the many sites in the Kingdom to be awarded UNESCO’s World Heritage Site status.
Al-Ahsa Oasis includes the Jawatha archaeological site including Jawatha Mosque dating back to the Qarmatain state in the 9th century and Al Hazm Palace.
Tombs can be seen in several parts of the oasis dating back to ancient civilizations.
Al-Ahsa gets its name from the nature of its land; in Arabic, Al-Ahsa is a plural word of “Al-Hisa” which refers to the accumulated sand with a solid base underneath.
When it rains, the sand prevents the sun from drying up the water. There are around 60 to 70 springs of freshwater around the oasis.
General Authority for Culture organizes cultural activities in Al-Ahsa
General Authority for Culture organizes cultural activities in Al-Ahsa
- Al-Ahsa was recently named Arab Tourism Capital for 2019 by the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism
Saudi Arabia celebrates Flag Day with displays, special events
- Nation goes green in show of unity, belonging
- Current design of the flag, which represents unity and sovereignty, was adopted in 1937
RIYADH: A new art exhibition has opened at King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh, as the country celebrates Flag Day, which fell on Wednesday.
The event, titled “In Love with Green,” is being held in collaboration with the Saudi Art Association and features 20 fine art paintings inspired by the Saudi flag, as well as other cultural and contemporary images and landmarks.
The current design of the flag, which represents unity and sovereignty, was adopted in 1937. It features the Shahada and a sword symbolizing justice and safety, representing the unification of the Kingdom during the reign of King Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
The exhibition, at the library’s services branch and reading halls on Khurais Road, was opened by the library’s Director General Bandar Al-Mubarak and the association’s board chair Hanaa Al-Shibly.
Visitors can attend from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Elsewhere in the country, public spaces and buildings have become a sea of green for Flag Day.
In Al-Baha, government buildings, squares and main roads were decorated with green lighting and national flags were hoisted in public squares.
It was a similar picture in Makkah, where people celebrated the annual show of pride and belonging against a green backdrop.
In Tabuk, authorities installed more than 7,000 flags along roads, squares and bridges, while the region’s landmarks and tunnels were illuminated with green and white lights.
More than 10,000 Saudi flags were also hoisted in Jazan, where Souk Al-Awalin in Jazan City is set to host a range of events and performances to mark the special occasion.
