Two Saudi schoolgirls with backpacks walk down a street in the historic Al-Balad district of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Schools in the 1970s: Chalk, Crowds and Change

This takes me back to my school days in Jeddah, when classrooms were modest but filled with curiosity, and education in Saudi Arabia was just beginning to take shape.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 19th Aug 2025

Culture

A Saudi musician in a traditional white thobe and red-checkered keffiyeh plays the oud alongside an African American jazz musician in a dark suit playing the saxophone, blending Middle Eastern and jazz traditions on stage.

Loulwa Al-Sharif Brings Jazz to Saudi Arabia’s Stage

From jazz to opera, Saudi women are stepping beyond weddings and family events, creating music that blends heritage with global styles—and reshaping the country’s cultural soundscape.

Aug 8, 2025

Juddmonte’s Sun Maiden, daughter of Frankel, claims victory in the 2019 Nottinghamshire Oaks under jockey Jim Crowley in Prince Khalid bin Abdullah’s racing silks.

Saudi Arabia’s Other Sporting Dynasty

While headlines focus on Saudi Arabia’s flashy investments in football and Formula 1, Saudi Arabia has long been shaping another sport from the shadows. Juddmonte, the horse breeding empire founded by Prince Khalid bin Abdullah, has quietly dominated the racing world—proving that long-term vision can outperform short-term spectacle.

Aug 7, 2025

Gulf man and Japanese woman creating animation together on a tablet, symbolizing cross-cultural creativity.

The Quiet Rise of Animation in the Gulf

Animation in the Gulf is quietly stepping into the spotlight, transforming from a niche pastime into a creative force that reflects local life and connects with global audiences.

Aug 1, 2025

Gastronomy and Change: Why Saudi Arabia’s MICHELIN Launch Matters

The arrival of the MICHELIN Guide in Saudi Arabia is more than a culinary milestone. It reflects how food—long tied to tradition—is now at the centre of a wider cultural transformation.

Jul 29, 2025

A view of Salwa Palace at the At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage site in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. The restored mudbrick architecture stands beneath a pale sky, representing the country’s efforts to document and preserve its pre-modern history.

Saudi Arabia’s Buried Past Is No Longer Ignored

In a country often defined by its futuristic ambitions, a quiet but powerful shift is taking place—one that looks backwards. More than 700 archaeological sites have just been added to the national register, expanding a growing movement to preserve and recognize the depth of cultural history. This isn't about new discoveries, but about newfound attention, scale, and purpose.

Jul 24, 2025

Close-up of ornate Arabic calligraphy and geometric mosaic tilework on stone columns outside a historic building in Marrakech, Morocco.

When Poetry Was Data: The Forgotten Archive of Arabia

In the absence of written records, Arab poetry became a living archive—preserving the region’s economic realities through rhythm, metaphor, and memory.

Jul 22, 2025

Two children inside a Saudi baqala (corner shop), one pushing a small shopping cart and the other browsing shelves filled with snacks and groceries.

Baqalas Are fading — And With Them, A Piece of Saudi Neighborhood life

Once a trusted part of daily life, Saudi baqalas are quietly disappearing. Their decline marks not just a retail shift—but the fading of neighborhood familiarity.

Jul 15, 2025

Shallow turquoise waters and rocky outcrops at Umluj Beach on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, known for its clear waters and untouched landscapes.

How Saudis Travel Now

There was a time when travelling within Saudi Arabia meant packing like you were heading into the unknown — snacks, patience, and low expectations. Buses were uncomfortable, flights overpriced, and trains nonexistent. Today, that’s changing fast. With new routes, faster connections, and a shift in how Saudis see travel, the once-daunting domestic journey is becoming part of everyday life.

Jul 8, 2025

The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, showcasing Qatar’s use of art in cultural diplomacy.

Influence by Design: Art’s Rising Role in the Gulf

Once seen as the domain of elites, contemporary art is now emerging as a powerful force in the Gulf—engaging the public, shaping minds, and becoming a central part of civic and cultural discourse. In this essay, Dr. Khawla Almarri traces how Qatar is leading this quiet revolution and why it matters for the region.

Jul 5, 2025

Dr. Lisa Urkevich speaking at a podium with a microphone, facing a large audience of Saudi men and women in traditional dress at an evening cultural gathering in 2024.

The Scholar Reviving Saudi Arabia’s Musical Tradition

In the early 1990s, before heritage preservation was on the national agenda, Dr. Lisa Urkevich arrived in Khamis Mushait with a scholar’s eye and a musician’s ear. Far from seeing a closed society, she discovered a living archive of sounds and traditions. Her decades-long journey would make her the foremost authority on Saudi music, capturing a cultural legacy once hidden from view.

Jun 3, 2025

A high-resolution aerial view showing Saudi Arabia’s diverse regions: green terraced hills, rugged mountains, sweeping desert dunes, and a coastal city along the shoreline, all captured under soft golden light.

Many Faces, One Kingdom

Often seen as a uniform nation, Saudi Arabia is in fact a vibrant mosaic of regions, dialects, and traditions — a diversity that’s now being proudly celebrated across the country.

May 30, 2025

Saudi Arabia’s Film Ambitions: From Shorts to Strategy

Saudi Arabia’s Cannes moment isn’t just about flashing lights—it’s a statement of intent. With its first official entry, Norah, on the international stage and a robust network of funding, studios, and infrastructure taking shape behind the scenes, Saudi Arabia's five-year-old film industry is no longer playing catch-up; it’s setting its own pace.

May 27, 2025