In Asir, farmers use cattle and plow to keep agricultural heritage alive

Farmers in Asir believe traditional methods provide greater control while preserving soil fertility and reducing fossil fuel dependence. (SPA)
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Farmers in Asir believe traditional methods provide greater control while preserving soil fertility and reducing fossil fuel dependence. (SPA)
In Asir, farmers use cattle and plow to keep agricultural heritage alive
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This system uses a wooden harness positioned over the bulls’ necks, with 70-cm wooden arms extending through four holes and secured with leather or palm fiber ropes. (SPA)
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Updated 18 April 2025
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In Asir, farmers use cattle and plow to keep agricultural heritage alive

In Asir, farmers use cattle and plow to keep agricultural heritage alive
  • Many farmers maintain that despite the available modern equipment, traditional cattle plowing benefits the soil in ways machinery cannot

RIYADH: In Saudi Arabia’s Asir region, farmers still use cattle and hand-crafted tools to tend their land, maintaining traditional techniques passed down through generations, SPA reports.

The farmers carefully prepare their soil during seasonal periods, using either modern machinery or traditional wooden plows.

This process supports soil health for planting seasons, especially on terraced farms where rugged terrain or limited access roads make modern equipment less practical.




Farmers in Asir believe traditional methods provide greater control while preserving soil fertility and reducing fossil fuel dependence. (SPA)

During a recent field visit, SPA correspondents interviewed farmers and regional experts about these enduring practices.

Farmer Mesfer Al-Qahtani and Dr. Abdullah Al-Moussa, a heritage sciences researcher focused on the region’s agricultural calendar, discussed the role of celestial movements in Asir’s farming calendar.

“Farmers in Asir rely on celestial movements and weather patterns to determine optimal plowing and planting times,” Al-Moussa said.




Farmers in Asir believe traditional methods provide greater control while preserving soil fertility and reducing fossil fuel dependence. (SPA)

He noted key seasons, including Al-Dhira’ayn, which signals the start of spring planting; Al-Thuraiya, ideal for corn and millet cultivation; and Al-Han’a, a critical period for soil preparation before autumn.

Al-Qahtani, who plows using cattle and ancestral methods, emphasized the deep connection between astronomical knowledge and agricultural practice.

“We track the seasons and heed our elders’ wisdom. We know when to plow the land and when to let it rest,” he told SPA.




This system uses a wooden harness positioned over the bulls’ necks, with 70-cm wooden arms extending through four holes and secured with leather or palm fiber ropes. (SPA)

He explained that traditional plowing relies on cattle and the plow, adding, “This is not merely technique — it is a lifestyle where we honor the earth and understand its rhythms of giving and resting.”

According to farmer Abdul Karim Al-Shehri, the traditional plowing process begins with securing two bulls using a wooden neck harness called Al-Nir (yoke). This connects to Al-Sikka — a sharp iron plowshare attached to a wooden plow that cuts and turns the soil.

He also outlined the traditional tools that have shaped Asir’s agricultural practices for generations. The plow, typically made from jujube or juniper wood, holds the iron blade that breaks the soil. Farmers have relied on the handheld wooden Al-Madra to guide the plow’s direction during tilling.

The Ruba’a (clevis) or Al-Dimad (drawbar) system connects cattle to the plow, ensuring the optimal distance between the animals for effective field work. This system uses a wooden harness positioned over the bulls’ necks, with 70-cm wooden arms extending through four holes and secured with leather or palm fiber ropes.

Farmer Abdullah Abdulrahman Al-Asmari explained that plowing is usually a team effort. Two farmers work together: One steadies the plow while the other, known as Al-Thari (sower), scatters seeds evenly.

After plowing is complete, the Makam or Al-Madsam (harrow) — a wide, two-meter piece of wood pulled by bulls or camels over the freshly turned earth — is used to level the soil and protect seeds from birds and harsh elements such as wind and heat.

“While we must embrace progress, we cannot abandon Asir’s agricultural heritage,” Al-Asmari said. “Teaching younger generations about our traditional farming methods is essential — these practices were not merely labor but represented the entire way of life that sustained our ancestors for centuries.”

The process involves four distinct phases designed to maximize crop yield and nutritional quality: Initial soil turning, deeper breaking for improved aeration and water absorption, directional plowing to prepare for seeding, and finally, careful seed distribution and coverage.

Many farmers maintain that despite the available modern equipment, traditional cattle plowing benefits the soil in ways machinery cannot.

They believe that it provides greater control using more natural methods while preserving soil fertility and reducing fossil fuel dependence.

In Asir, traditional plowing is more than farming — it embodies cultural identity and sustains people’s timeless bond with the land.

 

 


Filipino conjoined twins now in Riyadh for surgical separation

Filipino conjoined twins now in Riyadh for surgical separation
Updated 18 May 2025
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Filipino conjoined twins now in Riyadh for surgical separation

Filipino conjoined twins now in Riyadh for surgical separation
  • Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa were taken to King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital upon arrival Saturday from Manila

RIYADH: Filipino conjoined twin sisters Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa arrived Saturday in Riyadh and are now being assessed for possible separation surgery under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program.

The twins were taken to the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital at the Ministry of National Guard upon arrival at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Klea Ann and Maurice Ann, accompanied by their parents, were brought to the Kingdom from Manila upon royal directives.

They are the third conjoined twins from the Philippines to be placed under the program.

Conjoined twins Klea Ann and Maurice Ann are now undergoing medical assessment for possible separation surgery at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital. (SPA photo)

The program’s medical and surgical team is headed by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who is also an adviser to the Royal Court and director general of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief).

The twin’s parents expressed their deep gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous care and warm reception, as well as the comprehensive medical attention they received, SPA said.

In an interview published Saturday in Arab News, the twin’s mother, Maricel Misa, was quoted as saying that since her babies were born seven years ago, she had been praying that one day someone would help make her children live a normal life. 

Mrs. Misa, who owns a small shop with her husband in Lubang island in Mindoro Oriental province, central Philippines, have no other means to get their twins undergo costly surgical operation. Her prayers were answered when she got a call from the Saudi Embassy in Manila and told that the Kingdom was willing to help.

“We saw a post from Saudi Arabia about conjoined twins from the Philippines who had undergone surgery there, and I commented, saying I hope we can be helped too. Someone noticed my comment and reached out to me,” Mrs. Misa said.

Since its founding in 1990, the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program has separated more than 140 children born sharing internal organs with their siblings. Among them were Filipino conjoined twins Ann and Mae Manz — joined at the abdomen, pelvis, and perineum — who were separated by Dr. Al-Rabeeah and his team in March 2004. 

A second Filipino pair, Akhizah and Ayeesha Yusoph — joined at the lower chest and abdomen and shared one liver — were successfully separated in September 2024.

Al-Rabeeah has pointed out that the program “reflects the Kingdom’s principles of mercy and human solidarity without discrimination.”


A Saudi chef’s commitment to showcasing Kingdom’s cuisine on global stage

A Saudi chef’s commitment to showcasing Kingdom’s cuisine on global stage
Updated 18 May 2025
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A Saudi chef’s commitment to showcasing Kingdom’s cuisine on global stage

A Saudi chef’s commitment to showcasing Kingdom’s cuisine on global stage
  • Chef Mayram Atiq’s contemporary take on Saudi cuisine is winning hearts with every bite

MAKKAH: In the Kingdom’s burgeoning culinary scene, award-winning Saudi chef Maryam Marwan Atiq has emerged as a trailblazer, celebrated for her creativity and commitment to showcasing Saudi cuisine on the global stage.

With more than 15 years of experience, Atiq presents Saudi dishes in a contemporary, internationally appealing style without compromising its authentic essence. She is currently a member of the team of female Saudi chefs behind Tairat Al-Boulevard restaurant in Riyadh.

To Atiq, Saudi cuisine is not just a collection of recipes, but a “sea of flavors and ingredients” shaped by the Kingdom’s rich geographic and cultural diversity. This depth, she believes, gives Saudi food its distinctive character and its power to act as a bridge between cultures.

Through her participation in local and international exhibitions, Atiq has seen firsthand how Saudi flavors captivate people from around the world.

One of her most memorable encounters, she said, was with a man in his nineties who tasted jareesh for the first time at an exhibition. Deeply moved by the dish, his reaction reaffirmed her belief in the universal appeal of Saudi cooking.

“Food is the ambassador of culture,” she told Arab News. “And combining Saudi flavors and ingredients with international presentation techniques helps convey Saudi cuisine more quickly and accessibly, making it more appealing to international palates.”

Atiq praised the Ministry of Culture and the Culinary Arts Commission for their efforts in documenting and preserving Saudi food heritage. She herself has contributed to documenting traditional recipes from two regions of the Kingdom.

She also emphasized the role of online platforms in promoting Saudi cuisine to a global audience. Atiq called on media professionals and content creators to participate in this “cultural mission” that she is a major part of.

“I will continue my efforts to spread Saudi cuisine — , with our authentic flavors and cultural spirit — across the globe, making it a cultural ambassador worthy of the richness and diversity of the Kingdom,” she said.


Saudi ambassador attends send-off ceremony for Hajj pilgrims from Tajikistan

Saudi ambassador attends send-off ceremony for Hajj pilgrims from Tajikistan
Updated 18 May 2025
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Saudi ambassador attends send-off ceremony for Hajj pilgrims from Tajikistan

Saudi ambassador attends send-off ceremony for Hajj pilgrims from Tajikistan

Saudi Ambassador to Tajikistan Waleed Abdulrahman Alreshaidan attended the send-off ceremony for the first group of this year’s Hajj pilgrims departing from Tajikistan at Dushanbe International Airport.

Alreshaidan said that serving pilgrims is “an honor and a source of pride for the leadership of the Kingdom and its people,” the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

A’lem Zadah, deputy chairman of Tajikistan’s Committee of Religious Affairs, thanked the Saudi government for the facilities it provides to pilgrims, the SPA added.


Saudi Arabia highlights museums’ growing role in heritage preservation

Saudi Arabia highlights museums’ growing role in heritage preservation
Updated 17 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia highlights museums’ growing role in heritage preservation

Saudi Arabia highlights museums’ growing role in heritage preservation
  • The session illustrated how museums can serve as dynamic platforms to showcase intangible heritage through immersive experiences

JEDDAH: The Saudi National Museum hosted International Museum Day celebrations in Riyadh on Saturday under the theme “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.”

The event brought together cultural and heritage experts, artists, and enthusiasts for a day of dialogue, workshops, and interactive sessions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It opened with a panel titled “Living Heritage in Rapidly Changing Communities,” followed by a thought-provoking session on “Museums and Change.”

Speakers discussed how museums can evolve to reflect and respond to the fast-paced transformations shaping modern society.

A highlight was an interactive session on “Saudi Storytelling and Performing Arts in Museums,” emphasizing the power of narrative in preserving cultural identity and passing values to younger generations.

The session illustrated how museums can serve as dynamic platforms to showcase intangible heritage through immersive experiences.

Another panel, “Technological Challenges in Cultural Heritage,” explored innovative ways to safeguard and share heritage using digital tools.

This theme was further explored in the workshop “Craft and Technology: The Art of Digital Weaving,” where participants examined the intersection of traditional crafts and modern digital techniques.

Throughout the sessions, participants stressed the importance of community engagement, reinforcing museums’ role as inclusive spaces for education, creativity, and cultural innovation in a rapidly changing world.

The event also featured additional panels and workshops on museums’ evolving role in preserving identity and addressing contemporary challenges.


Saudi artist preserves Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art over decades

Saudi artist preserves Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art over decades
Updated 17 May 2025
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Saudi artist preserves Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art over decades

Saudi artist preserves Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art over decades
  • Al-Qatt, Al-Katba, or Al-Zayan, received international reognition in 2017 when it was registered on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage

RIYADH: For more than three decades, Saudi visual artist Ibrahim Al-Almaai has devoted his time to documenting Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, a vibrant, centuries-old art form traditionally painted by women on the walls of homes across the Asir region.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Al-Almaai emphasized that for the past 33 years, not a week has passed without him visiting a village in the eastern, western, northern, or central parts of the Asir region.

His mission: to seek out the remnants of this heritage art in homes, many of which have been lost to time and weather.

Despite the challenges, he has documented more than 1,200 variations of Al-Qatt patterns and colors.

The traditional art, known as Al-Qatt, Al-Katba, or Al-Zayan, received international reognition in 2017 when it was registered on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

But long before, Al-Almaai had been tirelessly cataloging the artwork, oftenn navigating harsh conditions, including dilapidated buildings and the threat of snakes and poisonous insects, to reach the artworks.

Almost every visit revealed intricate designs made using natural pigments sourced from the surrounding environment.

He explained to SPA that there are four key components of a typical heritage home adorned with Al-Qatt. Al Shabaka (the Network) are single-colored, interlaced lines that create the structural foundation of the design.

Al-Hanash (the Snake) are serpent-like motifs inspired by the Coluber snake, winding rhythmically across the walls.

Al-Khatmah or Al-Akhtam (the Seal) are a form of visual closure at the end of a design.

Al-Qatt (the Lines) are the horizontal strokes layered beneath the primary art, referred to as Al-Katba (the Writing), Al-Naqsh (the Inscription), or Al-Zayan (the Adornment) depending on the local dialect.

Al-Almaai’s lifelong dedication underscores the importance of preserving Saudi Arabia’s artistic and cultural legacy — one painted wall at a time.