Taif Summer Fruits Festival launches with markets, family activities
Festival highlights the diversity of Taif’s seasonal agriculture and supports farmers through a range of activities
Event will also include a wild fig and green plum crop display, in addition to a market for local families to sell products
Updated 01 August 2023
Rahaf Jambi
RIYADH: Taif Summer Fruits Festival launched on Aug. 2 in Al-Ruddaf Park, under the auspices of Taif Gov. Prince Saud bin Nahar.
The festival highlights the diversity of Taif’s seasonal agriculture and supports farmers through a range of activities held on the main stage for three days. The event will also include a wild fig and green plum crop display, in addition to a market for local families to sell products.
The director-general of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture branch in the Makkah region, Majid Al-Khalif, said that the festival is supervised by the ministry in Taif, with the participation of government and private agencies, in addition to more than 30 farmers, beekeepers and local family business representatives.
Hani Al-Qadi, director of the ministry’s office in Taif, highlighted the ministry’s keenness to support farmers and encourage production, in addition to promoting agricultural goods through festivals and events.
Agricultural crops are sold by farmers across local markets in the governorate, as well as in markets in Makkah, Jeddah and Riyadh.
Popular seasonal fruits farmed in Taif include apricots, peaches, prickly pears, pomegranates, quinces, berries and grapes.
Saudi Film Festival to return in April with focus on Korean cinema
Ahmed Al-Mulla, founder and director of the Saudi Film Festival, said in a statement: “We’re excited to welcome filmmakers to our annual gathering. Our doors are open to all creators, and filmmakers remain at the heart of everything we do
Updated 15 February 2026
Arab News
DHAHRAN: The Saudi Film Festival, organized by the Cinema Association in partnership with the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture and supported by the Saudi Film Commission, has announced that it will launch at Ithra in Dhahran between April 23-29.
This year’s festival explores the theme of “Cinema of the Journey,” presenting a selection of Arab and international films, both short and feature-length, that center on journeys and movement as essential storytelling elements.
Since its launch in 2008, the Saudi Film Festival has played a central role in nurturing local and Gulf cinema. (Supplied)
The program includes road movies, travel narratives and films where physical or emotional journeys drive the narrative.
The theme encourages Saudi filmmakers to explore this subject through their own perspectives. It positions cinema itself as an act of continuous transition, where identity, place, and time converge to shape the human experience.
FASTFACTS
• This year’s Saudi Film Festival will explore the theme of ‘Cinema of the Journey,’ presenting a selection of Arab and international films that center on journeys and movement as essential storytelling elements.
• The program includes road movies, travel narratives and films where physical or emotional journeys drive the narrative.
Following last year’s focus on Japanese cinema, the festival will present a special “Spotlight on Korean Cinema” this year.
Ahmed Al-Mulla, founder and director of the Saudi Film Festival, said in a statement: “We’re excited to welcome filmmakers to our annual gathering. Our doors are open to all creators, and filmmakers remain at the heart of everything we do. This year’s festival creates an atmosphere filled with inspiration, idea exchange, and shared learning. It’s a celebration of cinematic creativity for everyone.”
Tariq Al-Khawaji, deputy director of the festival, added: “At Ithra, we’re proud of our longstanding partnership with the Cinema Association. It has enabled the festival’s growth and thematic diversity year after year, which we see clearly in how we empower filmmakers and create opportunities to engage with global cinema.
“The festival continues to grow across all areas, from preparations and participation to industry expectations locally and regionally. That makes attention to every detail essential.”
Since its launch in 2008, the Saudi Film Festival has played a central role in nurturing local and Gulf cinema. After intermittent early editions, it has now established itself as an annual platform for narrative and documentary competitions, industry programs and project markets.
By bringing together emerging and established filmmakers in Dhahran each year, the festival strengthens Saudi Arabia’s growing presence on the global film stage.
