JEDDAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal has announced restoration work on eight historic mosques located in various parts of Jeddah. In the first step, all the mosques will be opened for worship and prayers, according to a media report.
Prince Khaled, who is also chairman of the Tourism Development Council and chairman of the Supreme Committee for the Development of Historic Jeddah, launched the project in the presence of dignitaries, including Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH), and Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed.
So far 800 mosques have been surveyed in the Kingdom. Of this, 21 historic mosques in Riyadh, Asir, Eastern Province, Madinah, Jeddah and Yanbu have already been restored. Three of the mosques, Masjid Tabab in Asir, Masjid Jaoufa in Al-Ahsa and Masjid Al-Shafei in Jeddah, were opened last year. A program for the restoration of historic mosques under the (SCTNH) was also started in cooperation with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
The program for the care of historic mosques launched by the SCTNH in partnership with the Charitable Heritage Foundation is aimed at highlighting the historic and religious importance of these mosques. It also concentrates on spreading the message of the historic mosques for enlightening the lives of Muslims based on the principles of unity and brotherhood in society.
The agencies which are restoring the mosques made clear that the mosques are places of worship and not designed to attract tourists. The groups are taking care to implement international standards related to world heritage sites while working to restore historic mosques.
Eight historic Jeddah mosques to be restored
Eight historic Jeddah mosques to be restored
Saudi Arabia celebrates Flag Day with displays, special events
- Nation goes green in show of unity, belonging
- Current design of the flag, which represents unity and sovereignty, was adopted in 1937
RIYADH: A new art exhibition has opened at King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh, as the country celebrates Flag Day, which fell on Wednesday.
The event, titled “In Love with Green,” is being held in collaboration with the Saudi Art Association and features 20 fine art paintings inspired by the Saudi flag, as well as other cultural and contemporary images and landmarks.
The current design of the flag, which represents unity and sovereignty, was adopted in 1937. It features the Shahada and a sword symbolizing justice and safety, representing the unification of the Kingdom during the reign of King Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
The exhibition, at the library’s services branch and reading halls on Khurais Road, was opened by the library’s Director General Bandar Al-Mubarak and the association’s board chair Hanaa Al-Shibly.
Visitors can attend from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Elsewhere in the country, public spaces and buildings have become a sea of green for Flag Day.
In Al-Baha, government buildings, squares and main roads were decorated with green lighting and national flags were hoisted in public squares.
It was a similar picture in Makkah, where people celebrated the annual show of pride and belonging against a green backdrop.
In Tabuk, authorities installed more than 7,000 flags along roads, squares and bridges, while the region’s landmarks and tunnels were illuminated with green and white lights.
More than 10,000 Saudi flags were also hoisted in Jazan, where Souk Al-Awalin in Jazan City is set to host a range of events and performances to mark the special occasion.
