Summer in Saudi Arabia: Historic Al-Shareef Museum in Taif offers a beautiful journey into the past

For more than 30 years, the owner of the museum has traveled across the Kingdom collecting various artifacts to place inside the facility, which features 6,000 square meters of floor space. (SPA)
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Updated 05 August 2021
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Summer in Saudi Arabia: Historic Al-Shareef Museum in Taif offers a beautiful journey into the past

  • Museum owner has traveled across the Kingdom collecting various artifacts for the past 30 years

TAIF: Guests visiting the famous Al-Shareef Museum in Taif are transported back in time as the museum’s artifacts, furniture, and paintings take them on a journey to the olden days.

Visitors wandering around the halls of the privately owned museum get to learn about the history of the region over the past century, an experience complemented by information from specialized tour guides, who are licensed by the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA).

For more than 30 years, the owner of the museum has traveled across the Kingdom collecting various artifacts to place inside the facility, which features 6,000 square meters of floor space. 

The buildings were constructed out of old stone with jittering rain gutters that emerge from the rooftop. Visitors will also discover different wooden doors ornamented with iron frills, which give the buildings an architectural style of the past along with the lanterns that hang on each house to light up the museum alleys.

The museum’s market features gifts, antiques, and clothes which represent traditional folk costumes. In one corner of the market, a number of craftsmen, sculptors, carpenters, and tailors can be found working on various projects as they are always keen on offering souvenirs to visitors.

All of these unique features qualified Taif governorate to be among the 11 tourist destinations announced by the Saudi Tourism Authority through the “Visit Saudi Arabia” platform. The authority launched the Saudi Summer Program 2021 under the slogan “Our Summer, Your Mood,” from June 24 until the end of September.


NHC begins delivery of first 2,000 units at Al-Fursan development

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NHC begins delivery of first 2,000 units at Al-Fursan development

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Housing Company announced on Friday the first phase of delivery of more than 2,000 residential units at the Al-Fursan development northeast of Riyadh.

The new housing was completed ahead of schedule, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

There were 759 new housing units in the Nasaj Al-Fursan project, 827 in the Saraya Al-Fursan project and 625 in the Al-Athba project.

NHC said in a statement that the early delivery reflected its commitment to improving customer confidence.

The projects are ready to receive residents, NHC added, providing them with a modern lifestyle in a residential environment that includes a number of facilities and services.

Saudi Arabia’s National Housing Company announced on Friday the first phase of delivery of more than 2,000 residential units at the Al Fursan development northeast of Riyadh. (SPA)

Al-Fursan is one of the major urban developments implemented by NHC and is strategically located near the capital’s airport.

It is set to be one of Saudi Arabia’s largest mixed-use housing developments, spread over an area of more than 35 million sq. m.

Al-Fursan will eventually provide more than 69,000 housing units once complete, according to the SPA, housing a population of more than 250,000 residents.

The development is being built with sustainability in mind, and so far nearly 350,000 cubic meters of construction waste have been collected and recycled, supporting national goals to develop sustainable infrastructure, advance the circular economy and improve resource efficiency.

Once completed, it will include 13 shopping centers, 16 health centers, 59 educational facilities, 84 mosques, 4 government offices, 3 post offices, 7 security offices, 16 parks and 141 commercial facilities.

The communities will be linked by more than 69 km of footpaths and cycle paths, and more than 400,000 trees will be planted.

NHC said that it has a vision to develop integrated projects that improve quality of life in a sustainable environment.

It further aims to consolidate its position as the largest real-estate developer in the Middle East.