Ramadan nights come alive in charming historic Jeddah

Traditional markets and public squares in historic Jeddah become hives of activity in Ramadan, drawing locals, residents and tourists alike to Al-Balad district for seasonal shopping. (Supplied)
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Traditional markets and public squares in historic Jeddah become hives of activity in Ramadan, drawing locals, residents and tourists alike to Al-Balad district for seasonal shopping. (Supplied)
Traditional markets and public squares in historic Jeddah become hives of activity in Ramadan, drawing locals, residents and tourists alike to Al-Balad district for seasonal shopping. (Supplied)
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Traditional markets and public squares in historic Jeddah become hives of activity in Ramadan, drawing locals, residents and tourists alike to Al-Balad district for seasonal shopping. (Supplied)
Traditional markets and public squares in historic Jeddah become hives of activity in Ramadan, drawing locals, residents and tourists alike to Al-Balad district for seasonal shopping. (AN Photo/Saleh Fareed)
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Traditional markets and public squares in historic Jeddah become hives of activity in Ramadan, drawing locals, residents and tourists alike to Al-Balad district for seasonal shopping. (AN Photo/Saleh Fareed)
Street food is one of the main draws of the Ramadan festival in the Al-Balad district of Jeddah. (AN Photo/Saleh Fareed)
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Street food is one of the main draws of the Ramadan festival in the Al-Balad district of Jeddah. (AN Photo/Saleh Fareed)
Traditional markets and public squares in historic Jeddah become hives of activity in Ramadan, drawing locals, residents and tourists alike to Al-Balad district for seasonal shopping. (SPA)
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Traditional markets and public squares in historic Jeddah become hives of activity in Ramadan, drawing locals, residents and tourists alike to Al-Balad district for seasonal shopping. (SPA)
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Updated 22 March 2025
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Ramadan nights come alive in charming historic Jeddah

Ramadan nights come alive in charming historic Jeddah
  • Visitors browse bustling markets and tour historical sites
  • Workshops in Arabic calligraphy, pottery and other crafts

JEDDAH: In the holy month of Ramadan, Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad district has come alive with a unique blend of culture, traditional crafts and authentic delicacies.

Its festival running throughout the month also highlights the historical significance of Al-Balad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The offerings include workshops in Arabic calligraphy, pottery, and other crafts showcasing the artistic legacy of the Hijaz region.

Children can enjoy interactive entertainment designed as an introduction to Saudi Arabia’s culture and heritage.

During a tour, Arab News spoke to several visitors who outlined the charms of the old city.

Salem Al-Harthi, a Saudi citizen, expressed his admiration for Al-Balad, calling it an “unparalleled destination” during Ramadan.

“The historic charm and festive energy here make it the perfect place to experience the essence of the holy month,” he said.

Hamad Al-Shemmari from Hail, who is visiting to perform Umrah with his family, shared his excitement: “These narrow alleys and winding streets transport us to another era.

“The ambiance, the food, everything about this place makes Ramadan special.”

First-time visitor Mahmoud Al-Nori from Syria was captivated by the area’s architectural beauty and vibrancy. “I had heard about Jeddah’s charm but experiencing it in Ramadan is something else.

“One night here is simply not enough to take it all in.”

One of the festival’s most beloved attractions is its street food. After evening prayers, hundreds of vendors set up stalls, wearing traditional attire and singing folk songs to entice visitors to sample local delicacies.

Among them is Muath Al-Bukiri, a young entrepreneur who, along with his friends, launched a food stall serving balila (boiled chickpeas) and chopped liver.

“We wanted to do something meaningful this Ramadan, and this has been an amazing experience,” he said, noting the popularity of these dishes among young and old.

Al-Balad has become a hub for families looking to celebrate Ramadan in an authentic setting.

Abdulaziz Al-Ahmadi, 54, enjoys bringing his family to stroll through the historic streets, sharing stories of the past. “This place connects us to our roots.

“It’s where our ancestors lived, and now, we experience Ramadan in the same streets they once did.”

A popular gathering spot is Al-Hazazi Yard, where dozens of traditional food stalls create a lively evening scene. Residents from across Jeddah gather in what has become an annual tradition to relish the festive atmosphere.

Mohammed bin Zagir told Arab News: “Visiting Al-Balad to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of families, the delicious flavors of kebdah and balila, and the cool evening breeze has become an annual tradition for my family and me.

“Here, you can truly experience the essence of Ramadan, in the very place where our ancestors once lived. It takes us back in time, allowing us to witness the transformation we live in today from every perspective.”

The Ramadan season in historic Jeddah plays a crucial role in supporting local entrepreneurs and artisans.

Heritage markets provide small and medium businesses with a platform to showcase their crafts, from handmade goods to culinary specialties.

Under the supervision of the Historic Jeddah District Program and the Ministry of Culture, the Ramadan festival continues to gain in popularity, reportedly drawing more than a million visitors in its first week.


Trump will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE from May 13-16: White House

Trump will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE from May 13-16: White House
Updated 10 sec ago
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Trump will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE from May 13-16: White House

Trump will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE from May 13-16: White House

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE from May 13-16, the White House said on Tuesday. 


Red Sea Global unveils Botanica, its first guest experience dedicated to regenerative tourism

Red Sea Global unveils Botanica, its first guest experience dedicated to regenerative tourism
Updated 9 min 27 sec ago
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Red Sea Global unveils Botanica, its first guest experience dedicated to regenerative tourism

Red Sea Global unveils Botanica, its first guest experience dedicated to regenerative tourism
  • Botanica becomes the latest offering at The Red Sea

RIYADH: Red Sea Global, the developer behind the flagship regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea and AMAALA, announced on Tuesday the rebranding of its latest brand, Botanica.

Previously known as The Red Sea Landscape Nursery, Botanica is dedicated not only to supplying sustainable greenery across RSG’s developments but also to offering guests immersive, nature-based experiences.

Operational since 2020, Botanica has already grown and supplied more than 7 million plants to landscape RSG’s destinations, with ambitions to deliver 30 million plants by 2030.

From this month, it opens its doors to guests at The Red Sea, AMAALA, and beyond, offering a new way for visitors to engage with the natural environment.

“Botanica is more than just a nursery, it’s a step toward regenerating Saudi Arabia’s rich biodiversity,” said John Pagano, group CEO of RSG.

“After providing us with more than 7 million plants for landscaping our destinations, the nursery now becomes our first guest experience that caters uniquely to the RSG DNA of regenerative tourism. Visitors have the opportunity to enjoy immersive, hands-on experiences that reconnect them with nature,” he added.

Guests visiting Botanica can explore the nursery through guided tours, participate in planting their own flora, and enjoy refreshments at the Botanica Cafe, which serves breakfast and lunch.

They can also visit a garden shop and a tropical area.

Covering over 1.8 million square meters, Botanica is the largest landscape nursery in the region. The nursery also plays a significant role in supporting the local economy, with around 400 people employed on site, 25 percent of whom come from nearby communities.

Botanica becomes the latest offering at The Red Sea, following the launch of WAMA, specializing in water sports; Galaxea, offering underwater adventures; and Akun, which delivers land-based exploration experiences.

The Red Sea welcomed its first guests in 2023 and currently has five hotels open.

Upon full completion in 2030, the destination will feature 50 resorts, providing up to 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties spread across 22 islands and six inland sites.

The development will also include luxury marinas, golf courses, entertainment venues, dining, and leisure facilities.


NCVC launches plan to combat desertification, sand encroachment and drought mitigation

NCVC launches plan to combat desertification, sand encroachment and drought mitigation
Updated 22 April 2025
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NCVC launches plan to combat desertification, sand encroachment and drought mitigation

NCVC launches plan to combat desertification, sand encroachment and drought mitigation
  • Project is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts under its COP16 presidency and aligned with initiatives to address climate challenges
  • Plan aims to strengthen national resilience against desertification and drought by developing and implementing effective strategies

RIYADH: The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, or NCVC, has launched an executive plan for combating desertification, sand encroachment and drought mitigation.

The move is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts under its COP16 presidency and in alignment with global initiatives to address environmental and climate challenges.

According to an NCVC press release, the plan aims to strengthen national resilience against desertification and drought by developing and implementing effective strategies that align with national policies, regional initiatives and international commitments. 

It focuses on formulating sustainable policies and programs based on a comprehensive assessment of current conditions, global practices and an integrated approach to natural resource management, the statement said.

In addition to enhancing readiness and response mechanisms, the plan seeks to develop early warning systems, implement mitigation and adaptation strategies, and foster cooperation among relevant entities in planning and execution. 

It also includes efforts to establish sustainable financing mechanisms and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and advanced technologies to ensure the successful implementation of its initiatives.

The project consists of two primary scopes: The executive plan for combating desertification and the executive plan for integrated drought management.

NCVC continues its mission to restore and preserve vegetation cover by rehabilitating degraded lands and protecting biodiversity in natural ecosystems, the press release said. 

It also oversees the conservation and sustainable management of rangelands, forests and national parks, combats illegal logging, and safeguards Saudi Arabia’s natural resources. 

These efforts align with its vision to foster a thriving and diverse vegetation cover that promotes environmental sustainability and enhances the quality of life.


Tarjama launches Arabic.AI based on model that outperforms GPT-4o in Arabic

Tarjama launches Arabic.AI based on model that outperforms GPT-4o in Arabic
Updated 22 April 2025
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Tarjama launches Arabic.AI based on model that outperforms GPT-4o in Arabic

Tarjama launches Arabic.AI based on model that outperforms GPT-4o in Arabic
  • Arabic-first large language model is said to outperform industry leaders on key benchmarks
  • Software understands “nuances of Arabic across multiple dialects and contexts,” founder says

RIYADH: In a market saturated with English-first large language models, Tarjama is flipping the narrative.

The UAE-based technology company today launched its Arabic.AI platform, based on the Pronoia V2 Arabic-first large language model that it claims has outscored industry leaders ChatGPT, DeepSeek and Cohere on key Arabic benchmarks.

Designed to process Arabic with near-human understanding, Pronoia touts itself as a tool for a range of uses including legal analysis, translation and proposal writing.

“It was a big surprise for us that this small model for specific niche tasks, can be better than (ChatGPT) 4o,” Andrii Klyman, senior AI product manager at Tarjama, told Arab News at a recent event in Riyadh.

Founder Nour Al-Hassan in a statement: “For too long, Arabic has remained an afterthought in the global AI landscape,

“We’ve built something fundamentally different—an autonomous system that actually understands the nuances of Arabic across multiple dialects and contexts.”

In testing, Pronoia V2 achieved an average score of 76.8 percent across Arabic language benchmarks, outperforming GPT-4o by more than 18 percentage points.

While the model can handle multilingual text, its strength lies in high-context Arabic. Tarjama has already developed several applications on top of it, including a spell-checker, legal contract analyzer, and its most recent interface, Arabic.AI — a tool for business users.

In one live demo, the system restructured an Arabic contract and highlighted risks based on local law.

In another, a user uploaded a PowerPoint file, and the system not only translated the slides but reversed their direction — adapting layout and language simultaneously.

A third version, Pronoia V3, is now in testing. Tarjama says it will deliver even stronger performance across Arabic dialects and achieve a COMET score above 94 — a key benchmark for translation quality.

Tarjama’s push to dominate Arabic AI is both technical and cultural. For years, the Arabic language has been underserved by leading AI tools, which often fail to understand its grammar, dialects, or even its script direction. Pronoia, by contrast, was purpose-built to fill that gap.


KFUPM launches research project to improve green hydrogen feasibility

KFUPM launches research project to improve green hydrogen feasibility
Updated 22 April 2025
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KFUPM launches research project to improve green hydrogen feasibility

KFUPM launches research project to improve green hydrogen feasibility
  • Project aims to reduce the cost of producing the element to make the process more economically viable
  • Uses a portable solar panel to power a process known as water splitting, which separates the hydrogen atoms from oxygen in water

RIYADH: A research project to improve the feasibility of green hydrogen production has been launched by the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.

Led by Prof. Mohammed Gondal, the project aims to reduce the cost of producing the element to make the process more economically viable.

It uses a portable solar panel to power a process known as water splitting, which separates the hydrogen atoms from oxygen in water.

This setup has several advantages: It operates at a lower energy input compared to traditional electrochemical water splitting, produces valuable byproducts, and utilizes the abundant solar energy available across Saudi Arabia.

The project also uses methanol, the oxidation of which traditionally results in hydrogen and CO2 emissions.

However, KFUPM’s method focuses on selectively converting methanol into valuable chemicals without CO2 emissions, significantly boosting the overall efficiency of the process.

Electrochemical water splitting carries some environmental challenges, as a large amount of energy is required for the reaction and there is a risk of mixing the two gases, hydrogen and oxygen.

Through the project, Gondal was able to overcome major challenges faced in hydrogen production, improving the output and quality of the byproducts such as formate and formic acid.

Looking forward, the project aims to scale up production by interlinking multiple cells, demonstrating the feasibility of industrial-scale green hydrogen generation using locally synthesized materials.

Hydrogen holds potential value as a fuel source for shipping, aviation and the automotive industry.

It can also be used to decarbonize heavy industries, including steel production.

Saudi Arabia is making a significant push into the production of green hydrogen, or hydrogen produced from completely sustainable sources.

It is building one of the world’s largest green hydrogen plants at the megacity of NEOM, powered by solar and wind energy.