Azka Farmer’s Market returns with a monthly celebration of Saudi produce

At Azka Farmer’s Market visitors can explore locally grown produce and other specialty items sourced from farms and producers from across the Kingdom. (Supplied)
At Azka Farmer’s Market visitors can explore locally grown produce and other specialty items sourced from farms and producers from across the Kingdom. (Supplied)
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Updated 12 April 2025
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Azka Farmer’s Market returns with a monthly celebration of Saudi produce

Azka Farmer’s Market returns with a monthly celebration of Saudi produce
  • As Saudi Arabia, we can reach ethical foods and self-sufficiency, says initiative founder

JEDDAH: Starting this month, the two-day Azka Farmer’s Market will take place every month at Hayy Jameel.

The market is not just a shopping destination for fresh produce, but also a platform for cultivating awareness around healthy food choices, sustainability and Saudi Arabia’s rich agricultural heritage.

Visitors can explore the best of locally grown seasonal fruits, vegetables and grains, as well as bread and other specialty items sourced from farms and producers from across the Kingdom.




At Azka Farmer’s Market visitors can explore locally grown produce and other specialty items sourced from farms and producers from across the Kingdom. (Supplied)

Organized as part of Art Jameel’s community programming under the Hayy Markets initiative, the market creates an ideal atmosphere for families and food lovers. It also features a chef’s corner, Azka’s specialty coffee pop-up, free public programming and engaging activities for children at Hayy Explorers, including drawing stations and reading areas.

Zaki Kamel, Azka Foods founder, told Arab News: “We are trying to reach an ethical food system and self-sufficiency based on the ethics of food production, which I understood from the Qur’an over the last eight years of contemplation.”

He said that organisers were working with more than 74 food vendors from around the Kingdom in categories ranging from honey and dairy to vegetables, fruits and meat.




At Azka Farmer’s Market visitors can explore locally grown produce and other specialty items sourced from farms and producers from across the Kingdom. (Supplied)

“As Saudi Arabia, we can reach ethical foods and self-sufficiency. This monthly farmer’s market at Hayy Jameel is a step toward that. It offers an alternative to the modern supermarket model of sourcing food, where the consumer is directly connected with the producer and farmer,” he said.

“We can hopefully export this philosophy of ethics to the rest of the world.”

Each month, 16 booths from producers and farms across the region will be featured.




At Azka Farmer’s Market visitors can explore locally grown produce and other specialty items sourced from farms and producers from across the Kingdom. (Supplied)

“For the farmers who cannot have a booth, we have the ‘Azka Selection’ section where we take the responsibility of selling their produce for them,” Kamel said.

One of the core elements of the Azka Farmer’s Market is interaction and education. Visitors can meet producers face-to-face, ask questions during Q&A sessions, and attend panel discussions with key figures in the local agricultural community.

On April 11, the first day of the market’s new season, a panel hosted Jassim Almughrabi, the first organic honey producer in Saudi Arabia and owner of Mugribi Apiaries Est.

He shared insights into the differences between organic and conventional beekeeping, drawing from his expertise as a former honeybee specialist at the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.

“We discussed which honey is better organic or regular — and explored the lives of bees that stay in one place all year versus those moved seasonally,” Almughrabi said.

“Many people attended, asked questions, and left with new knowledge. They were very happy about the material, and I hope we meet again for another discussion in the future.”

Panel discussions were also held the following day with producers from Baha, who cultivate ancient strains of wheat and grains, and food historians from Lebanon and Canada, who explored Saudi Arabia’s culinary history and its global connections.

Nagwat Al-Nanaa Farms, an award-winning organic farm based in Madinah, is among the local food producers at the market.

Fahad Al-Raddadi, CEO of the farm, said: “Our farm was proudly recognized as the best farm in Madinah in 2021 and 2022, a reflection of our commitment to quality and sustainability.

After five years in the market, Nagwat Al-Nanaa earned its organic production certification with the support of Azka Foods.

“Ahmad Kamel played a crucial role in guiding us through the certification process, helping us formalize and validate the organic practices we had already embraced. The farmers market always proves to be a major success and opened the door to a broader network within the local agricultural community,” he said.

“Our journey has also taken us beyond Saudi borders. We were honored to be one of 22 companies selected to represent Saudi Arabia internationally, participating in events across Italy, the UK, Australia, Japan, and more in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Culinary Arts Commission.”

Alongside the stalls and panels, the Hayy Cinema screens related films such as “Flow” and “Thank You For Banking With Us,” weaving culture and conversation into the market experience.

The next Azka Farmer's Market event will be held on May 9 and 10.

 


Ancient Saudi city of Qurh a historic stop for pilgrim and trade caravans

Ancient Saudi city of Qurh a historic stop for pilgrim and trade caravans
Updated 29 May 2025
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Ancient Saudi city of Qurh a historic stop for pilgrim and trade caravans

Ancient Saudi city of Qurh a historic stop for pilgrim and trade caravans
  • Qurh was capital of Wadi Al-Qura, a center for Arab markets
  • Architectural features date back to the early Islamic periods

ALULA: Qurh, an ancient city in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla governorate, served for centuries as a vital hub for pilgrims and traders, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Located about 20 km south of AlUla’s old town, near the village of Mughayra, Qurh is one of the Royal Commission for AlUla’s archaeological sites. AlUla’s other main heritage sites are Dadan, Hegra and the Old Town.

Qurh’s ruins spread across an expansive plain surrounded by medium-height mountains. The ruins include remnants of architectural structures, marketplaces, streets, and palaces, all of which highlight the city’s once-thriving economic and urban life.

Architectural features dating back to the early Islamic periods also suggest that settlement and cultural growth continued after the advent of Islam.

The ruins include remnants of architectural structures, marketplaces, streets, and palaces, all of which highlight the city's once-thriving economic and urban life.  (SPA)

Qurh was the capital of Wadi Al-Qura and a center for Arab markets, as described by the historian Hisham bin Al-Kalbi, who identified it as a commercial and cultural center and a cradle of the arts.

The city was located on the route of the historic Incense Road, a trade artery used to transport precious goods from the southern Arabian Peninsula to the north, passing through Wadi Al-Qura.

The ruins include remnants of architectural structures, marketplaces, streets, and palaces, all of which highlight the city's once-thriving economic and urban life.  (SPA)

According to Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani, the RCA’s vice president for culture, the excavations in Qurh have so far proved “that there was some interaction with China at the beginning of the Islamic period.”

“Evidence exists of interactions and trade extending as far as China,” he said in an interview produced by FT Longitude in partnership with the RCA.

“With China, for example, (there were) merchants who brought porcelain, medicines and silk to Arabia with incense for sure, ivory, while other valuables travelled in the opposite directions.”

AlUla, part of Saudi Arabia’s western province of Madinah, has been home to the ancient Dadanites, Lihyanites, Nabataeans, Sabaeans, Minoans, Egyptian, Romans and Arabs, he said.


Saudi defense minister holds talks with UK security, defense officials

Saudi defense minister holds talks with UK security, defense officials
Updated 29 May 2025
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Saudi defense minister holds talks with UK security, defense officials

Saudi defense minister holds talks with UK security, defense officials
  • Prince Khalid bin Salman and UK National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell discussed strategic partnership between the two countries

LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman held talks with the UK’s National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell in London on Wednesday.

The two sides “reviewed the strong friendship and strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and the UK,” the Saudi Press Agency reported. “They also reviewed areas of cooperation and discussed regional and global developments, as well as ongoing efforts to support security and stability.”

The talks followed a meeting on Tuesday between Prince Khalid and British Defense Secretary John Healey during which they discussed strategic defense cooperation.


Saudi Embassy coordinating with Turkiye to find boy who fell into a creek

Saudi Embassy coordinating with Turkiye to find boy who fell into a creek
Updated 28 May 2025
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Saudi Embassy coordinating with Turkiye to find boy who fell into a creek

Saudi Embassy coordinating with Turkiye to find boy who fell into a creek
  • The embassy coordinated with child’s family after he reportedly went missing in a river in Trabzon province
  • Turkish authorities are investigating the incident

ANKARA: The Saudi Arabian Embassy in Turkiye confirmed on Wednesday that it is coordinating with Turkish authorities to search for a Saudi child who reportedly fell into Haldizen Creek in Uzungol region.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the embassy issued a statement clarifying the reports circulating in media outlets and across social media platforms regarding the incident in Trabzon province.

“From the first moments of the incident, the embassy coordinated with the child’s family and contacted the relevant Turkish authorities to investigate the incident,” the statement said.

“The authorities have responded and are gratefully conducting extensive searches in the area and its surrounding to locate the child. We ask God Almighty to crown these efforts with success and to protect everyone from all harm,” it added.


Founding nations sign Global Water Organization charter in Riyadh

Founding nations sign Global Water Organization charter in Riyadh
Updated 12 min 5 sec ago
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Founding nations sign Global Water Organization charter in Riyadh

Founding nations sign Global Water Organization charter in Riyadh
  • Ceremony was attended by Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who highlighted the importance of the GWO in tackling water issues worldwide
  • Prince Faisal said that Saudi Arabia would provide financial and logistical support to the GWO for the next five years

The Global Water Organization launched operations from its headquarters in Riyadh on Wednesday, with founding member states signing its charter.

The event was attended by officials and diplomats, including Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan; Environment, Water and Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli; and Greek Ambassador Alexis Konstantopoulos.

Prince Faisal highlighted the importance of the GWO in tackling water issues worldwide holistically.

“The establishment of this organization reaffirms the Kingdom’s commitment and keenness to international cooperation in all fields, including the water sector,” said the minister.

He added: “This organization is considered a practical, comprehensive, and multilateral platform aimed at promoting dialogue among countries, unifying efforts, enhancing coordination and cooperation to face the growing challenges related to water.”

“It also aims to enable partnerships and find innovative solutions, contributing to building a prosperous future for all nations.”

Prince Faisal said the Kingdom views water issues as a humanitarian and development priority, recognizing the importance of this vital resource to the stability and growth of societies.

“The Kingdom continues to support an approach based on international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and sustainable solutions that contribute to the efficient management of important natural resources.”

Other officials also shared their thoughts on the importance of securing water sources and the development of the sector.

Al-Fadhli said: “Water is a basic necessity for life in general and is essential for all economic development in this world, whether for agriculture, industry, mining, tourism, or entertainment. Competition for this vital resource is increasing.”

He continued: “The challenges facing the world in general, and no one is exempt from them at the present time, can be summarized as follows: the scarcity of water resources, quality as well, and the pollution it (water resources) have been exposed to as a result of human activities in recent years, and also the high cost of these projects.”

Al-Fadhli said there was an urgent need to rethink engineering, in general, and consider the “engineering value” of these projects, along with encouraging development in water-related efforts.

“I must encourage research, innovation, and development, and always ask how we can complete these projects at a lower cost while maintaining quality.”

He emphasized the importance of having an integrated system that covers all stages of the water cycle.

This includes adopting innovative economic models based on cost-benefit analysis, introducing new financing mechanisms, reducing reliance on government subsidies, and actively involving the private sector.

The GWO’s charter was signed by representatives from the founding countries: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Spain, Senegal, Pakistan, Greece and Mauritania.


Saudi FM receives US envoy to Syria in Riyadh

Saudi FM receives US envoy to Syria in Riyadh
Updated 28 May 2025
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Saudi FM receives US envoy to Syria in Riyadh

Saudi FM receives US envoy to Syria in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received US envoy to the Syrian Arab Republic Thomas Barrack in Riyadh on Wednesday.

During the meeting, they discussed steps to provide economic, humanitarian and other support to the Syrian people, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji received Ambassador of Italy to the Kingdom Carlo Balducci in Riyadh on Wednesday.

They discussed bilateral relations and other topics of common interest.