MANILA: The Exhibition of the History of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is proving to be a popular attraction at the Philippines Cultural Center in Manila.
The five-day event, organized by the King Abdul Aziz Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Media and the Saudi Embassy, has attracted hundreds of visitors each day since it opened on Feb. 19.
The exhibition aims to shed light on Saudi culture, the history of the Kingdom and how it is adapting and flourishing in the modern era. The foundation has produced booklets, in English and Tagalog, that explain the Kingdom’s role at the heart of the Islamic world, as a hub connecting Asia, Africa and Europe with the land of ancient civilizations.
Visitors can also learn about the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to diversify the economy and open up the country culturally, along with the history of relations between the two countries.
Filipinos can also enjoy traditional Saudi entertainment at the event, including folkloric and musical performances from across the Kingdom, presented by the Arts and Heritage Department of the International Cultural Relations Agency of the Ministry of Media.
There is also an Arabic calligraphy display, where visitors can have a go at writing their names in a variety of styles, while henna artists have proved popular with women keen to have traditional Arab designs painted on their hands.
Exhibition of Saudi culture proves popular with visitors in Philippines
Exhibition of Saudi culture proves popular with visitors in Philippines
- The exhibition aims to shed light on Saudi culture, the history of the Kingdom and how it is adapting and flourishing in the modern era
Fragrance artisans weave heritage into Jazan Festival experience
Riyadh: Perfumes are emerging as living connections to ancestral memory at the Jazan Festival 2026, which opened on Friday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
A narrative rooted in botanical origins is unfolding as veteran craftswomen showcase decades of accumulated wisdom, transforming the contents of native plants into small vessels that distill the human bond with terrain.
Aromas wafting through the space suggest imagery of regional ecosystems — fragrant vegetation cultivated across highland and lowland zones, harvested during optimal periods, then subjected to extended drying and distillation processes before materializing as perfumes and essences embodying geographical character, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Arranged fragrance containers resemble nature’s output, composed by skilled practitioners versed in harvest timing, plant dormancy requirements and scent extraction methods, yielding products preserving organic integrity and territorial identity.
Craftswoman Fatima bint Mohammed Al-Faifi has dedicated two decades to perfume production, characterizing regional practice as social custom interwoven throughout daily existence — deployed in guest reception, featured at celebrations, accompanying community gathering — elevating scent to cultural signature, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Festival attendees are discovering aromatic botanicals, absorbing production methodology explanations and discerning nuanced olfactory distinctions, demonstrating how craftsmanship blends persistence with expertise, tradition with innovation.
Perfume artisan involvement aligns with Jazan Festival’s initiative repositioning traditional crafts as dynamic, evolving culture while spotlighting women’s contributions safeguarding regional inheritance and expressing this through modern methods, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
