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Kawir Palace provides architectural insights into Makkah’s heritage

The palace was built between 1910 and 1920 and is on a hill overlooking the historic Biban area, offering panoramic views. (SPA)
The palace was built between 1910 and 1920 and is on a hill overlooking the historic Biban area, offering panoramic views. (SPA)
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Kawir Palace provides architectural insights into Makkah’s heritage

The palace was built between 1910 and 1920 and is on a hill overlooking the historic Biban area, offering panoramic views. (SPA)
  • The palace provides valuable architectural lessons, particularly in the integration of form and function

RIYADH: The city of Makkah features numerous historical landmarks that reflect its urban development and architectural uniqueness. Among these is Kawir Palace, also known as Biban Palace, one of the oldest and most notable historical palaces.

It embodies authentic architectural elements and symbolizes the social and cultural diversity of the early 20th century, serving as a model of local architecture connected to social changes in Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.




Indian teak wood was used for some doors and windows, while the facades featured carved wooden windows (roshan) and geometric motifs. (SPA)

Owned by a local merchant nicknamed Kawir because of his trade in limestone quarrying, a prevalent building material, the palace’s architecture and strategic location in Makkah’s prominent Biban area highlight its significance.

The palace was built between 1910 and 1920 and is on a hill overlooking the historic Biban area, offering panoramic views, the SPA added.

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After restoration, the palace could serve as a museum of traditional Makkah architecture, a community cultural center, or a luxury heritage guesthouse for experiential tourism.

The construction used local materials and techniques, including local stone for the foundation, limestone for wall insulation, and clay, wood, and gypsum for interiors.




The palace comprises five floors, featuring spacious halls, reception areas, and internal courtyards for ventilation. (SPA)

Indian teak wood was used for some doors and windows, while the facades featured carved wooden windows (roshan) and geometric motifs. The ceilings feature handmade gypsum decorations, reflecting local craftsmanship.

The palace comprises five floors, featuring spacious halls, reception areas, and internal courtyards for ventilation, according to the report.




The palace comprises five floors, featuring spacious halls, reception areas, and internal courtyards for ventilation. (SPA)

The palace provides valuable architectural lessons, particularly in the integration of form and function. Traditional methods offer solutions for ventilation, privacy, and thermal insulation, emphasizing local identity over imported styles.

After restoration, the palace could serve as a museum of traditional Makkah architecture, a community cultural center, or a luxury heritage guesthouse for experiential tourism.


MWL chief meets Kenya’s ambassador to Ƶ

Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa (R) holds talks with Mohamed Ramadhan Ruwange in Riyadh. (Supplied)
Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa (R) holds talks with Mohamed Ramadhan Ruwange in Riyadh. (Supplied)
Updated 12 sec ago

MWL chief meets Kenya’s ambassador to Ƶ

Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa (R) holds talks with Mohamed Ramadhan Ruwange in Riyadh. (Supplied)
  • During their meeting at the league’s Riyadh office, Al-Issa, who is also the chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, and the envoy discussed topics of mutual interest

RIYADH: Muslim World League Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa met with Mohamed Ramadhan Ruwange, Kenya’s ambassador to Ƶ.

During their meeting at the league’s Riyadh office, Al-Issa, who is also the chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, and the envoy discussed topics of mutual interest.

In a separate meeting, Al-Issa received Euronews chairman Pedro Vargas David. They discussed the media sector and its expected positive impact, highlighting Euronews’s role as a leading multilingual broadcaster in Europe and globally.

 


Saudi surgeons separate Syrian conjoined twins in 8-hour operation

Saudi surgeons on Sunday separated Syrian conjoined twins Celine and Eline in an eight-hour operation in Riyadh. (SPA)
Saudi surgeons on Sunday separated Syrian conjoined twins Celine and Eline in an eight-hour operation in Riyadh. (SPA)
Updated 27 July 2025

Saudi surgeons separate Syrian conjoined twins in 8-hour operation

Saudi surgeons on Sunday separated Syrian conjoined twins Celine and Eline in an eight-hour operation in Riyadh. (SPA)
  • Celine and Eline, who are 17 months old, were conjoined at the lower chest and abdomen
  • The operation was the 66th procedure under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program

RIYADH: Saudi surgeons on Sunday separated Syrian conjoined twins Celine and Eline in an eight-hour operation at Riyadh’s King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital.

“It’s an indescribable feeling. Truly, it’s a feeling beyond words,” said Abdulnaeim Al-Shubli the twins’ father.

“Thanks to Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah and the specialized medical team. I am deeply thankful. From now on, we will move from better to even better," he added.

"Ƶ is our second home. It’s like we came to be with our own family and daughters.”

Celine and Eline, who are 17 months old, were conjoined at the lower chest and abdomen.

They were born in Februaty 2024 at Rafik Hariri Hospital in Beirut as part of a triplet birth. Their brother, Sanad, was born healthy and unjoined.

The family fled Aleppo in 2013 after their home was destroyed during the war and have lived in Lebanon since.

The twins were medically evacuated to Riyadh in December 2024 to receive specialized care. Al-Shubli said they underwent four months of preparation before surgery.

“They were under 24-hour supervision by a consulting medical team. The girls received complete care throughout that period, and after that they told me the surgery would proceed.”

The operation was the 66th procedure under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program.

It is also the fourth separation of Syrian conjoined twins to be performed as part of the initiative, which has treated cases from 27 countries since its launch in 1990.

Hussein Abdulaziz, charge d’affaires at the Syrian Embassy in Riyadh, said the procedure was part of the Kingdom’s broader humanitarian efforts to assist Syrian families in need of medical care.

He said: “Cases like these are medically complex and difficult, and they require thorough study. From a humanitarian angle, such surgeries come with very high financial costs, but the Kingdom of Ƶ, through its humanitarian and charitable work, lifts this burden entirely off the shoulders of the children’s families.”

Abdulaziz also highlighted the work of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in Syria.

“It’s well known that KSrelief has been working in Syria for the past 14 years. After the liberation, the center expanded its operations to cover all Syrian provinces, most recently providing support to families affected by the wildfires in Latakia province on the Syrian coast,” he said.

He added that Ƶ’s volunteer medical program has carried out nearly 1,300 surgeries in Syria in recent years, alongside the wide-ranging provision of food and medical aid.


Hail festival honors Saudi craft, culture

The 30-day Beit Hail Festival at Aja Park offered a mix of cultural, artistic, and heritage experiences.
The 30-day Beit Hail Festival at Aja Park offered a mix of cultural, artistic, and heritage experiences.
Updated 27 July 2025

Hail festival honors Saudi craft, culture

The 30-day Beit Hail Festival at Aja Park offered a mix of cultural, artistic, and heritage experiences.
  • More than 95,000 visitors explore rich traditions, Thamudic art,handmade treasures, folk performances at Aja Park

RIYADH: A heritage festival in Hail, northwestern Ƶ, has concluded after attracting more than 95,000 visitors from across the Kingdom, Gulf region, and other international destinations.

The 30-day Beit Hail Festival at Aja Park offered a mix of cultural, artistic, and heritage experiences, running daily from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The event celebrated cultural heritage through handicrafts, traditional dishes, and Thamudic inscriptions, the SPA added.

It featured an art pavilion showcasing notable artists, a resin art exhibit, folk theater, heritage-inspired residential models, and performances reflecting the culture of Asir province.

Exhibits gave younger generations insight into how ancestors transformed natural materials into functional items, highlighting the ingenuity of Saudi heritage.

More than 40 activities allowed visitors to explore traditional crafts such as wickerwork, sadu weaving, crochet, hand-woven textiles, and Najdi and Hail-style door making.

Other highlights included traditional clothing, Thamudic embroidery, wood and leather beading, fiber arts, resin art, and soap making. The festival also served as a platform for local artisans to present their work directly to the public.

Several government leaders visited the event, praising its efforts to revive memories of traditional life and showcase historical methods of meeting daily needs.

Mauritanian Ambassador to Ƶ Mokhtar Ould Dahi also toured the festival, exploring stands and pavilions featuring local craftsmanship.

He expressed admiration for the crafts on display, including wickerwork, sadu weaving, hand-woven textiles, and fiber arts, and commended the cultural performances for reflecting Saudi heritage.

Separately, EU Ambassador to the Kingdom Christophe Farnaud visited the festival, praising the displays of palm frond weaving, sadu weaving, handmade textiles, traditional wooden doors, resin art, crochet, Thamudic embroidery, woodcraft, and leatherwork.

Both ambassadors attended traditional folk performances, including the Saudi Ardah (sword dance), the Hail Samri (drum-accompanied poetry), and various artistic presentations from Asir region.


Manga Productions empowers Saudi voice actors with dubbing contest

Manga Productions has launched a dubbing competition to spotlight Ƶ’s rich cultural and linguistic diversity.
Manga Productions has launched a dubbing competition to spotlight Ƶ’s rich cultural and linguistic diversity.
Updated 27 July 2025

Manga Productions empowers Saudi voice actors with dubbing contest

Manga Productions has launched a dubbing competition to spotlight Ƶ’s rich cultural and linguistic diversity.
  • The initiative aims to create audio content that reflects Saudi society by celebrating its rich regional dialects
  • Contest features scenes from the hit animated series “Asateer2: Future’s Folktales,” which has gained international acclaim

JEDDAH: Manga Productions, a subsidiary of the Misk Foundation, has launched the Saudi Dialects Dubbing Contest to empower local voice talent and highlight the Kingdom’s linguistic diversity.

The initiative aims to create audio content that reflects Saudi society by celebrating its rich regional dialects, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The contest features scenes from the hit animated series “Asateer2: Future’s Folktales,” which has gained international acclaim with more than 150 million views across five continents and eight platforms.

Participants are invited to dub using dialects from regions such as AlUla, Hail, Makkah, Jeddah, the Eastern Province, Qassim, Asir, Tabuk, and Jazan.

The four-week contest will run through digital challenges, with active public participation on social media. The company aims to train aspiring voice actors under the guidance of its professional team.

Outstanding contestants will be invited to join future Manga Productions projects, further boosting local creative talent.

Sara Waldaddah, head of the creative department at Manga Productions, said the initiative aligns with the company’s mission to support national talent and highlight Ƶ’s cultural and linguistic richness.

She said that scenes from “Asateer2: Future’s Folktales” are ideal for the contest, as the series celebrates Saudi heritage through stories that reflect national values and encourage voice acting in native dialects.

Waldaddah added that the goal is to transform this linguistic diversity into a creative force that reinforces the Kingdom’s cultural identity and shares it with regional and global audiences.

Abdulaziz Al-Muaina, head of marketing and communications at Manga Productions, highlighted the Kingdom’s rich geographical and cultural diversity reflected in its many dialects.

He said that the contest aims to showcase this diversity by providing a platform for Saudi voice talents to creatively celebrate the Kingdom’s beauty and generosity.

Participants are invited to submit voice recordings in local Saudi dialects by choosing a scene and uploading entries at saudidubbing.com. Use of AI tools for voice generation or editing is strictly prohibited to ensure authentic submissions.


Saudi authorities crack down on tourism violations

Saudi authorities crack down on tourism violations
Updated 27 July 2025

Saudi authorities crack down on tourism violations

Saudi authorities crack down on tourism violations
  • Over the past month, inspection teams carried out around 2,750 field visits

RIYADH: The Ministry of Tourism intensified inspections targeting tourism service providers across key summer destinations in cities and regions throughout the Kingdom.

Over the past month, inspection teams carried out around 2,750 field visits, detecting some 170 violations, according to a Saudi Press Agency report.

These visits aimed to ensure that tourism entities are licensed by the ministry, safeguarding the rights of both domestic and international tourists as part of the Saudi Summer program.

In Asir, more than 420 inspections uncovered over 25 violations. In Taif, more than 360 visits revealed around 25 violations.

Jeddah recorded over 1,680 visits, revealing more than 110 violations. In the Baha region, more than 280 inspections resulted in five violations.

The ministry emphasized that all tourism service providers — including travel agencies, consultancy offices, and event organizers — must comply with tourism regulations and bylaws to protect tourists’ rights. It also urged the public to report any concerns about tourism services via the unified call center at 930.