The 10th edition of the weeklong Taif Rose Festival concluded Saturday on a high note in the presence of flower lovers from all over the Kingdom, including westerners, Saudis and citizens of the neighboring Gulf states.
The festival, held at King Faisal Park, was inaugurated jointly by Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah and Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).
Many visitors bought rose oil and rose water, according to organizers who said that this year saw an increase in rose production and also visitors in the 10-year history of the festival. “The response was overwhelming,” Eid Al-Swat, chief organizer of the festival, told Arab News. He said that there were requests from people to extend it for three days but they could not do so. He added that several European residents from Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam also visited the festival.
He said that during week days the number of visitors was around 5,000 to 8,000. There were several recreational activities for children on the sidelines of the Festival. Every year Taif Municipality and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities coordinate with local farmers to organize the festival, which is visited by both local and international tourists, he added.
Al-Swat said, “We have celebrated nine years of allegiance to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in a floral method. We prepared a rose carpet with 111,000 flowers of 50 various varieties of roses stretching 750 square meters to welcome Prince Mishaal and Prince Sultan bin Salman.”
Ahmed Al-Jaied, another prominent official of Rose Festival, said, “Rose farms have spread from the more well-known areas of Al-Shafa and Al-Hada to many highland areas surrounding Taif governorate which has 860 farms producing more than 300 million roses annually. There are also 50 distilling plants for production of rose water and rose oil.”
He said that the output of distilling plants producing natural perfumes and rose oil of different grades, this year, is between 18,000 and 20,000 tolas of pure rose oil, which is sold at prices ranging from SR1,500 to SR2,000 per tola.
The bottles of ‘Al-Aroos,’ or first-extract rose water, are sold for SR40 each, while ordinary rose water is sold for SR20 a bottle throughout the year. Taif rose water is characterized by its sweet smell and rich flavor compared to imported rose water.
The extraction of rose oil is done at special traditional distilling plants. The roses are first cooked in large pots, each with a capacity of between 10,000 and 20,000 roses.
When the vapors rise from the cooking pot, they are condensed into droplets through a cooling pipe known locally as Al-Kou’, which carries the distilled water and rose oil from the pipe to Al-Talqiah, a vessel made of glass, which comes in different sizes.
Rose Festival in Taif delights one and all
Rose Festival in Taif delights one and all
Rixos Obhur Jeddah sets new benchmark for all-inclusive luxury in Saudi Arabia
- This resort is an impressive contribution to the Kingdom’s global tourism ambitions
JEDDAH: From the moment you arrive at Rixos Obhur Jeddah, it’s clear this is not just another beachfront resort — it’s a statement. Billed as the first all-inclusive luxury experience “of its kind” in Jeddah, Rixos Obhur signals a shift in how hospitality is being represented in Saudi Arabia. It is a breath of fresh air — both literally and conceptually — introducing a global resort model while remaining rooted in regional culture.
The Kingdom has long been associated mainly with business travel and domestic tourism. But it is now positioning itself as a lifestyle destination for international travelers. Rixos Obhur actively contributes to that change, offering an experience that competes confidently with established upmarket resort destinations around the world. During my stay, it was impossible not to notice the wide range of international visitors alongside Saudi families and regional travelers.
The property is expansive, polished, and unmistakably luxurious. I stayed in a three-bedroom villa designed to accommodate up to six guests. The attention to detail throughout the space was immediately noticeable.
The interiors are modern, sleek, and thoughtfully designed, striking a balance between contemporary aesthetics and warm, welcoming comfort. Everything feels new, curated, and intentional — from the furniture selection to the lighting and layout.
What truly stands out, though, is just how elevated even the smallest details feel. The bathroom amenities, including the shampoo and personal care products, are of exceptional quality — a small but telling detail that separates a luxury resort from a standard beachfront chalet experience. This is not the kind of stay where you feel you’ve “settled” for convenience; it’s one where indulgence is built into every element.
Rixos Obhur Jeddah also excels in its culinary and entertainment offerings, which are central to the all-inclusive concept. One of the highlights of my stay was the dinner and live show experience. Guests are treated to an open buffet that goes far beyond expectations, featuring premium cuts of steak, rich Turkish specialties, Arabic classics, and indulgent desserts — including Turkish Delights that live up to the brand’s heritage.
The food selection is impressively diverse, catering to an international audience while still celebrating regional flavors. This thoughtful balance ensures that every guest, regardless of background, finds something familiar and something new to enjoy. The live entertainment — including dancers and a live band — adds an energetic, celebratory atmosphere that transforms dinner into a full evening experience rather than just a meal, while the range of expertly crafted mocktails on offer further enhances the resort’s appeal.
Service throughout the property is warm, attentive, and polished, creating an environment where guests feel genuinely welcomed rather than simply accommodated.
Another standout feature of the resort is how seamlessly outdoor spaces are integrated into the overall experience. Even during warmer weather, the presence of outdoor air-conditioning allows guests to enjoy open spaces comfortably — a thoughtful adaptation to the local climate. The beach, too, is immaculately clean, well-maintained, and clearly designed with families in mind.
Rixos Obhur Jeddah offers a vision of Saudi Arabia as a competitive global tourism destination, capable of delivering world-class hospitality experiences without compromise. It successfully highlights what an all-inclusive resort can look like in the Kingdom, blending international standards with regional identity in a way that feels authentic and forward-looking.
If this resort is a glimpse of where Saudi tourism is headed, the future looks both exciting and impressively refined.
