How the sustainable use of water is helping Saudi rose farms bloom into a global industry

Special How the sustainable use of water is helping Saudi rose farms bloom into a global industry
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Taif rose fields are in full bloom during the spring season. (AFP)
Special How the sustainable use of water is helping Saudi rose farms bloom into a global industry
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A view of the entrance to the Shuyuck rose garden, one of the favorites of tourists. (Shutterstock)
Special How the sustainable use of water is helping Saudi rose farms bloom into a global industry
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The fragrant crops have elevated the mountainous Taif region into a global rose capital.. (SPA photo)
Special How the sustainable use of water is helping Saudi rose farms bloom into a global industry
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Taif produces more than 550 million flowers each harvest season, which lasts for between 45 and 60 days. (AFP photo)
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Updated 10 August 2024
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How the sustainable use of water is helping Saudi rose farms bloom into a global industry

How the sustainable use of water is helping Saudi rose farms bloom into a global industry
  • With government support, rose farmers in Taif and Madinah see their yields blossom while preserving precious water
  • Generations have cared for the Kingdom’s prized roses, passing down the tradition of harvesting and extracting rose oil 

JEDDAH: Saudi-grown pink roses are loved throughout the Arabian Peninsula for their expert cultivation, vivid color, alluring fragrance and the many luxurious products derived from their petals, which constitute a multimillion-dollar industry.

Two kinds of pink rose are cultivated in the Kingdom — the Madinah rose, which has a light pink blush and grows year round, thriving in warm and cool climates, and the Taif rose, also known as the Jory or Damascus rose, which grows only in the spring.

Taif produces more than 550 million flowers each harvest season, which lasts for between 45 and 60 days. The rose-picking season typically begins late in March or early April.

Spanning 270 hectares, 910 rose farms nurture about 1.14 million bushes across areas such as Al-Hada, Al-Shifa, Wadi Muharram, Al-Wahat and Al-Wahit, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The products derived from these flowers enjoy widespread popularity, with a domestic market value of SR64 million ($17 million).

Considered a hallmark of the region’s natural beauty, Taif roses are known for their exquisite, sweet fragrance, vibrant pink hues, and delicate petals. Cultivated at high altitudes, these roses thrive in the region’s cool temperatures and fertile soil.




Every spring, roses bloom in Taif, transforming pockets of the Kingdom's vast desert landscape into fragrant pink patches. (AFP photo)

More than 60 farms and the families who run them participate in the region’s annual Rose Festival, which typically falls in April and May, where they display their products over five days of festivities.

These fragrant crops have elevated the mountainous governorate into a global rose capital, which earned a place in the Guinness World Records in 2022 for the largest basket of roses, containing 84,450 flowers.

To grow the industry, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has launched several projects, including the rehabilitation of agricultural terraces, the application of rainwater harvesting technologies, and the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Program.




A Saudi woman takes a picture of a rose orchard at the Bin Salman Farm in Taif on March 13, 2021. (AFP photo)

The ministry also supports specialized agricultural cooperatives, including the recently established Rose and Aromatic Plants Association. This support allows them to invest in ministry lands, produce aromatic oils, and benefit from the Agricultural Development Fund.

“The ministry is working on several initiatives and plans to achieve global leadership in Taif rose industries and increase its production to 2 billion roses by 2026,” Saleh Bindakhil, spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, told Arab News.

DID YOUKNOW?

• Taif produces more than 550 million flowers each harvest season, which lasts for 45-60 days.

• Spanning 270 hectares, 910 farms in the west of the Kingdom nurture 1.14 million bushes.

• Products derived from rose oil have a domestic market value of SR64 million ($17 million).

A group of horticulturalists from the Agricultural Guidance Department were recently sent to Bulgaria, the Philippines and Thailand to learn about the latest technologies in rose-oil production and environmentally friendly farming practices.

Farmers receive expert guidance on best agricultural practices, with dedicated pest control teams responding promptly to requests for pesticide spraying to safeguard crops from potential threats.




A tourist takes a photo with Taif roses at the Bin Salman Farm in the city of Taif on March 13, 2021. (AFP)

The ministry also leads the construction of essential water infrastructure, including tanks and barriers, while also facilitating the establishment of irrigation networks to boost agricultural activities.

Emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices, the ministry encourages small-scale rose farmers to embrace and implement best agricultural methods, providing them with valuable insights into the use of advanced technologies and optimal rose production techniques, including essential oil extraction as part of a value chain development approach.

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“Taif governorate has long been recognized as the ideal and original environment for Taif rose bushes,” Bindakhil said.

“Generations have cared for these roses, passing down the tradition of harvesting, distilling and extracting rose oil and water. They have enjoyed the fragrant history of these roses in the mild, cool climate and mountainous nature at the summit of the renowned Jabal Ghazwan.”

One use for the rose water extracted from Taif roses is for washing the Kaaba in Makkah each year — a traditional practice upheld by the Saudi government.




The distillation process, which last nine to 12 hours, is done using tightly sealed copper pots. (AFP photo)

The Kingdom has many factories and workshops dedicated to extracting and manufacturing more than 80 products from rose derivatives, producing various aromatic products and body care items.

The rose industry plays a significant role in regional development and the local economy, providing numerous job and marketing opportunities, and encouraging more women to enter the workforce.

To extract the rose oil, sacks containing thousands of rose petals are poured into 90-liter copper pots, which are then sealed tightly for a distillation process that lasts nine to 12 hours.




It takes 45,000 roses to produce the oil extract, which is then poured into 12 milliliter vials. (AFP photo)

It takes 45,000 roses to produce the oil extract, which is then poured into 12 milliliter vials, the price of which starts at $400, depending on the season.

Al-Kamal, established in 1831, is the oldest factory manufacturing rose-derived cosmetics and cleaning products in the Kingdom. Located in Madinah’s Al-Hada, it is managed by Khalid Al-Kamal, whose family has worked at the firm for generations.

“It is an inherited career from father to son — from one generation to another — and I am very proud to tell you that I am the seventh generation to inherit this legacy,” Al-Kamal told Arab News in a 2021 interview.




A view of the entrance to the Al-Kamal Rose Factory in Taif. (Shutterstock)

“Working in the field of farming roses requires a lot of delicacy, as the quality of the roses is affected by the soil and weather as well as the method of cultivation. I learned from my forefathers, and now my three sons manage the factory along with several workers.”

With many new government investments in the pipeline promoting the sustainable use of water resources, Saudi Arabia’s rose industry will no doubt continue to blossom in years to come.

 


KSrelief supervisor general meets UK development minister

KSrelief supervisor general meets UK development minister
Updated 4 sec ago
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KSrelief supervisor general meets UK development minister

KSrelief supervisor general meets UK development minister

RIYADH: Anneliese Dodds, the British minister for development, has praised Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian efforts in various countries of the world through its relief agency KSrelief.
The minister made this comment during a video conference Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, the head of KSrelie, where they also discussed matters of common interest related to humanitarian and relief affairs.
Meanwhile, Ahmed bin Ali Al-Baiz, KSrelief assistant supervisor for operations and programs, met with Gavi Vaccine Alliance chief executive Sania Nishtar in Riyadh to discuss humanitarian and relief measures and ways to provide essential vaccines to countries assessed in need.
Elsewhere, the aid agency has also awarded an initial approval certificate to the Ain Ophthalmology Association in Jazan, allowing it to conduct operations outside the Kingdom.
In Jordan, KSrelief clinics provided services to 2,551 Syrian refugees in Zaatari Camp.


KSelief distributes thousands of date cartons in Yemeni cities 

KSelief distributes thousands of date cartons in Yemeni cities 
Updated 3 min 42 sec ago
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KSelief distributes thousands of date cartons in Yemeni cities 

KSelief distributes thousands of date cartons in Yemeni cities 

RIYADH: KSrelief continues implementing several projects in Yemen, including the distribution of dates across the country to neediest groups.
The agency distributed 6,000 cartons of dates in the districts of Al-Houta and Al-Melah in Yemen’s Lahj Governorate, benefiting 36,000 individuals, state news agency SPA reported. 
It also delivered 3,187 cartons of dates to vulnerable groups in the Midi district of Yemen’s Hajjah governorate.
This aid, benefiting 18,000 individuals, is part of the date assistance distribution project in Yemen for 2024.


Arab League FMs urge enforcement of UN court decision on occupied Palestinian territory

Arab League FMs urge enforcement of UN court decision on occupied Palestinian territory
Updated 7 min 15 sec ago
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Arab League FMs urge enforcement of UN court decision on occupied Palestinian territory

Arab League FMs urge enforcement of UN court decision on occupied Palestinian territory
  • International Court of Justice has ruled settlements are illegal
  • Ministers call for UN to suspend Israel from general assembly

CAIRO: The Arab League’s foreign ministers have urged the international community to enforce the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion declaring Israel’s settlements illegal in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

At the conclusion of their discussions on Tuesday at the 162nd Ministerial Meeting of the Arab League Council in Cairo, the ministers said Israel must cease its illegal presence and all settlement activities, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

They called on the UN General Assembly and Security Council to consider additional measures to end Israel’s illegal occupation.

The ministers also urged the ICJ to expedite its judgment on the case brought by South Africa against Israel, which accuses Tel Aviv of failing to abide by the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

They said Israel’s expulsion of the Palestinian people from their land constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

It was also a declaration of war and aggression against Arab nations, undermines peace prospects, and exacerbates conflict in the region.

They called on the UN to suspend Israel from participating in its general assembly, SPA reported.

This was because of Israel’s “non-compliance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, its threat to international peace and security, and its failure to fulfill its obligations that were a condition for its admission to the United Nations.”

They also slammed Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his refusal to withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor, which they said were obstructing efforts for a ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners and hostages.


Saudi Arabia reaffirms strong support for Sudan

Saudi Arabia reaffirms strong support for Sudan
Updated 11 September 2024
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Saudi Arabia reaffirms strong support for Sudan

Saudi Arabia reaffirms strong support for Sudan

GENEVA: Saudi Arabia reiterated its support for Sudan during the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday, reported state news agency SPA.

Abdulmohsen bin Majed bin Khothaila, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, delivered a statement on the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan.

In his statement, Khothaila emphasized the need to protect Sudan and its people from further destruction and the worsening humanitarian situation.

The Sudanese army, led by de facto ruler Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, is locked in conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces led by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Khothaila has stressed the importance of adhering to the protection of civilians and aid workers and ensuring the safety of humanitarian corridors for the delivery of essential aid.

The war, which began in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Saudi Arabia also urged the prioritization of the interests of Sudanese people and halting of the conflict to safeguard state institutions and lead Sudan to safety.

The Kingdom called on the international community to commit to protecting Sudan and its people and working to restore security and stability in the country while welcoming international efforts and initiatives aimed at achieving peace in Sudan.


 


Saudi FM discuss Palestine, Syria and Somalia crises with counterparts in Cairo meeting

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attends an Arab League meeting in Cairo on Tuesday. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attends an Arab League meeting in Cairo on Tuesday. (SPA)
Updated 11 September 2024
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Saudi FM discuss Palestine, Syria and Somalia crises with counterparts in Cairo meeting

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attends an Arab League meeting in Cairo on Tuesday. (SPA)
  • Ministers discussed joint Arab action to intensify coordination on the Palestinian issue at the meeting

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with his counterparts at the sidelines of the Arab League foreign ministers meeting in Cairo on Tuesday.

During the meeting, ministers discussed joint Arab action to intensify coordination on the Palestinian issue and other matters of concern.

Regional and international developments were also discussed at the meeting that was attended by a Turkish foreign minister for the first time in 13 years.

Bin Farhan bin Abdullah additionally met with his Tunisian counterpart Mohamed Nafti, who discussed ties and regional and international issues of common interest. 

The Kingdom’s foreign minister also met with the Mauritanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Salem Ould Merzoug, on the sidelines of the Ministerial meeting and discussed cooperation.

Several Arab countries including Saudi Arabia and the Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit took part in a Liaison Committee meeting which discussed strengthening the Arab role in settling the Syrian crisis.

Similarly, a meeting was held to support Somalia in confronting the assault on its sovereignty. The meeting was attended by many Arab leaders including Faisal bin Farhan, and Arab the importance of respecting sovereignty of states was discussed.