RIYADH: Many young people in Saudi Arabia are embracing traditional crafts through a number of training programs and workshops that link cultural identity with modern opportunity.
Hammad Al-Shammari, a young craftsman specializing in mud construction, said his journey began during the excavation of a historic home.
“There, I felt the value of old buildings, with their decorations, columns, and authentic architectural features,” he told Arab News recently.
“From that moment, my passion for restoring traditional homes was born.”
Al-Shammari went on to specialize in mud construction at the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, or Wrth, where he trained in structural and restoration techniques.
“Wrth has been the greatest blessing in my journey,” he said. “It helped me develop my craft skills both practically and academically … I learned how to connect heritage identity with contemporary innovation.”
Hammad Al-Shammari, a young craftsman specializing in mud construction. (Supplied)
Wrth focuses on strengthening national identity through traditional arts. The organization trains young Saudis, honors master craftspeople, preserves both tangible and intangible heritage and raises awareness at home and abroad.
Al-Shammari said architecture reflects the Kingdom’s cultural richness.
“Each region has its own unique features, from the Al-Qatt Al-Asiri decorations of the south, to Hijazi plasterwork, Najdi mud-and-wood architecture, to the beauty of the eastern buildings that still retain their charm.”
“The greatest challenge was reviving old memories and practices within a modern society in a unique and high-quality way. I overcame this through patience, curiosity, and by learning from the experiences of elders and those with long practice,” he added.
Mamdouh Al-Harbi, an urban heritage researcher, highlighted the importance of passing on skills.
“Knowledge transfer is the lifeline of heritage crafts, without it, these practices risk becoming static artifacts in museums rather than living traditions,” he said.
He noted that in the past, crafts were family-based livelihoods, passed from parents to children. Industrialization and urban growth, however, caused many practices to decline.
Today, Vision 2030 and new legislation have reversed the trend.
Hammad Al-Shammari went on to specialize in mud construction at the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts. (Supplied)
“Traditional crafts have transformed from endangered practices into a promising creative sector that links national identity with economic development,” Al-Harbi said.
He added that youth engagement now reflects creativity and entrepreneurship. Modern technologies such as 3D printing and virtual reality are being introduced into training programs, while heritage motifs are finding their way into public buildings.
“Showcasing youth success stories that turn crafts into entrepreneurial projects reshapes public perception,” he said.
He added: “Heritage crafts will only remain attractive to youth if they are freed from rigidity and reimagined as spaces of contemporary creativity.
“Today’s generation, raised in an era of technology, engages with crafts not as repetitive traditional skills but as opportunities for experimentation, innovation, and a renewed connection to identity.”
Heritage crafts are also creating career pathways. Graduates can work in restoration projects, museums, and cultural festivals, or establish businesses in heritage-inspired decor, fashion, and tourism.
Among the more specialized crafts is manuscript-making, where young artisans learn skills that date back centuries.
Faisal Al-Jarallah, a young craftsman specializing in manuscripts, said his passion developed unexpectedly.
“Honestly, at first it wasn’t passion that led me to this field. I was assigned to work in the manuscripts department against my will. I feared it and saw it as a burden. But now, I have become passionate about it,” he said.
He described the process as “the art of making books by hand … preparing paper, creating inks from natural materials, calligraphy, gilding, ornamentation, and binding.”
He noted that Saudi Arabia holds 27 percent of the manuscripts in the Islamic world, calling it “a heavy responsibility that requires proper preservation.”
He added that the Kingdom is now moving “from preservation to presentation.”
National programs, he added, have been instrumental. “I believe the movement and competitiveness created by national initiatives are the real drivers of creativity in the field of crafts.
“Initiatives like the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, Wrth, have played a major role in shaping this cultural scene and supporting artisans,” he said.
He described manuscripts as “a repository of diverse knowledge and sciences,” and said traditional crafts remain powerful symbols of identity.
“When a young person learns the craft of their ancestors, they not only acquire a manual skill but also connect with their roots, fostering a sense of belonging and pride,” he added.
