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"Tiled entrance to the Golestan Palace in Tehran, Iran." FrankvandenBergh/Getty Images Tehran, March 2, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was damaged in the aftermath of a U.S.-Israeli strike, semi-official Mehr News Agency reported. The palace’s mirrored throne room was affected, Mehr reported, adding that museum artefacts had previously been moved to a secure vault following January protests and during a 12-day war in June 20

SPA Jeddah, February 26, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Al Balad, Jeddah’s historic district, has become a focal point for residents and visitors during Ramadan nights, offering heritage settings and cultural activities linked to Hijazi identity. After Taraweeh prayers, narrow alleys fill with foot traffic under lanterns and traditional lighting, illuminating coral-stone buildings and carved wooden windows known as rawasheen, some dating back more than five centuries. Vi

SPA Riyadh, February 22, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Historical accounts show that the imams of the Saudi state placed strong emphasis on religious observance and charitable giving during the month of Ramadan since the nation’s founding. Records indicate they prioritised congregational prayers, encouraged fasting and reinforced the importance of Zakat as a pillar of Islam and a mechanism for social solidarity. Support was extended to religious study circles, scholars,

SPA Brand Dubai launches Ramadan recipes guide with chefs and venues from Proudly from Dubai network Dubai, February 21, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, has launched a Ramadan recipes guide featuring dishes developed with chefs, restaurants and cafes from the “Proudly from Dubai” network as part of the citywide Ramadan in Dubai programme. The “Ramadan Recipes Guide” includes about 40 recipes spanning m

SPA Riyadh, February 16, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Qiddiya Investment Company announced the start of construction for the Performing Arts Centre in Qiddiya City, marking a key milestone in the city’s development as a destination for entertainment, sports, and culture. The announcement coincided with the laying of the foundation stone, with construction to be carried out by Nesma and Partners. During the ceremony at the project site on the edge of the Tuwaiq Mountain

SPA AlUla, Saudi Arabia, February 13, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – AlUla has become a prominent destination for film tourism, leveraging its natural and historical sites as locations for international and local film productions. In 2025, the governorate hosted 83 audiovisual projects, including feature films, documentaries, television programs, commercials, music videos, and short films. In 2024, AlUla accommodated 85 productions, demonstrating sustained activity in th

SPA Riyadh, February 12, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport have announced 2029 as the official Saudi-UK Year of Culture, following Prince William’s official visit to the Kingdom. The initiative builds on nearly a century of formal relations between the two countries, which have evolved into a multifaceted partnership encompassing culture, education, and innovation. Recen

SPA Riyadh, February 9, 2026 (SABN) – The Royal Commission for Riyadh City, through its Riyadh Art initiative, has launched the Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 exhibition on Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Street (Tahlia), with the public display running from February 9 to 22. The exhibition presents 25 new works under the theme “Traces of What Will Be,” focusing on transformation and urban renewal. The sculptures were produced during a live phase from January 10 to February 5, with arti

SPA ALULA, February 8, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – AlUla Governorate is continuing to expand its cultural and arts platform through year-round programming that combines heritage sites, open-air museum experiences, exhibitions and contemporary creative initiatives. The governorate’s cultural offering includes visual arts, design, crafts, photography and cinema, alongside commissioned works, publications and artist residency programs designed to support knowledge produc

SPA DAMASCUS, February 6, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan inaugurated Saudi Arabia’s pavilion as guest of honor at the Damascus International Book Fair 2026 in the Syrian capital. The opening took place in the presence of Syrian Culture Minister Mohammed Yassin Saleh and Qatari Culture Minister Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani. Saudi Arabia is this year’s guest of honor at the fair, which

SPA DAMASCUS, February 6, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Culture Minister Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan and Syrian Culture Minister Mohammed Yassin Saleh toured the National Museum of Damascus on Thursday during Saudi Arabia’s participation as Guest of Honor at the Damascus International Book Fair 2026. The visit included review of the museum’s collections spanning prehistoric periods to modern art. The two ministers also viewed the Arab-Islamic wing, includ

SPA AL-HOFUF, February 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Governor of Al-Ahsa Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr inaugurated the Lyali Al-Qaysaria Festival 2026 on Tuesday at the historic Al-Qaysaria Souq in Al-Hofuf. Prince Saud toured the market and reviewed activities including folk arts, performances, community gatherings, traditional games and interactive experiences highlighting Al-Ahsa’s cultural heritage. He described Al-Qaysaria Souq as one of the governorate’s most

SPA ALULA, February 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – AlUla Governorate has continued to develop its cultural and arts offering, building on archaeological sites, open-air heritage areas and a year-round programme of exhibitions and experiences spanning visual arts, design, crafts, photography and cinema. AlUla’s cultural landscape includes specialised exhibitions, open-air museums and sites featuring rock inscriptions and historical writings that document successive civ

SPA Riyadh, February 2, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Red Sea Museum hosted a series of cultural activities including art workshops, cultural dialogues, performances and family-focused programming, built around the Red Sea’s cultural heritage and contemporary creative practice. The activities covered themes ranging from traditional architecture and historical photography to music, travel literature, maritime history and public health in the Red Sea region. Events we

SPA Al-Ahsa, February 1, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Al-Bisht Al-Hasawi Festival is being held at the historic Qasr Ibrahim, showcasing Al-Hasawi bisht craftsmanship and traditional weaving and embroidery techniques. Visitors have been attending bisht workshops led by master artisans, including sessions focused on zari embroidery, a technique passed down through generations. Festival figures showed a rise in international attendance following the Al-Hasawi bisht’s

SPA Riyadh, January 31, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale opened on Friday in the JAX District and will run until May 2, featuring 68 artists from 37 countries and more than 25 newly commissioned artworks under the theme “In Interludes and Transitions”. The biennale is being held near UNESCO World Heritage Site At-Turaif. Aya Al-Bakree, chief executive of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, said this edition marks the

SPA ALULA, Saudi Arabia, January 31, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Music Commission staged the “Marvels of Saudi Orchestra” concerts in AlUla, with performances held at Maraya Hall. The concerts were held under the patronage and in the presence of Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan, who is also governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla and chairman of the Music Commission’s board. The concerts continued the journey of the Saudi National Orchestra and Choir in pre

SPA Al-Ahsa, Jan 28, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Prince Saud bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, the deputy governor of the Eastern Region, inaugurated the third edition of the Al Bisht Al-Hasawi Festival in Al-Ahsa on Wednesday, held under the patronage of Eastern Region Governor Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz. Organised by the Heritage Commission, the festival will run for 11 days at Ibrahim Palace in Al-Ahsa, with organisers positioning it as a platform to support artisa

SPA Makkah, Jan 27 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Traditional Egyptian handicrafts are being showcased as a central feature of the Egyptian products exhibition at the Makkah Chamber Exhibitions and Events Center, with organisers positioning the event as a cultural and commercial platform for artisans and small producers. The handicrafts pavilion includes copperware, wooden products, textiles and hand-embroidered garments, highlighting craft techniques and heritage-based produ

SPA AlUla, Jan 27 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The exhibition “Witnessing the Material… Celebrating Design from Within” has opened at AlUla Design Space as part of the AlUla Arts Festival, offering visitors a hands-on experience to explore materials, textures and the link between craft and contemporary design. The exhibition positions design as a cultural practice grounded in research and experimentation, highlighting the role of material choices and craft skills in shaping