Taif rose farmers bid farewell to their most treasured harvest as season ends

Taif rose farmers bid farewell to their most treasured harvest as season ends
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Updated 17 May 2025
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Taif rose farmers bid farewell to their most treasured harvest as season ends

Taif rose farmers bid farewell to their most treasured harvest as season ends
  • Rose oil used in perfumes is exported to markets across Europe and the Gulf
  • Rain poses threat to rose harvest as prices surge to SR1,800 ($480) per bottle

TAIF: As the Taif rose season comes to an end, the region’s farmers are reflecting on the challenges they have faced this year.

The season is one of the area’s most important agricultural and tourism events, marking the arrival of spring as rose farms across the highlands of Al-Hada, Al-Shafa and Taif’s terraced fields are transformed into breathtaking pink landscapes with intoxicating scents.

As it draws to a close, farmers work tirelessly to harvest the final blooms, while distillation plants extract the last precious drops of rose oil — each bottle of which is made from around 12,000 roses and can fetch prices up to SR1,800 ($480).

Despite weather-related challenges affecting yields, the Taif rose has preserved its renowned status.

Nestled among the towering mountains is the Taif Rose Terraces Farm, managed by Abdullah Al-Talhi. Speaking to Arab News, he discussed the current state of rose farming and its economic value, highlighting the impact of rainfall during the “dormant” period which negatively affected both the harvest and prices.

Rose season has a precise cycle which starts with pruning. If it rains during the following 40 days — a natural dormant period — the roses are at risk, as this phase requires dry weather for proper blooming.

Al-Talhi said the unexpected wet weather had provided this year’s biggest challenge, disrupting the plants’ natural rhythm, weakening the buds and causing them to bloom prematurely. This means a shorter flowering window and a faster decline in overall production.

“The rose season is like a gold harvest for farmers,” Al-Talhi said. “But when rain falls at the wrong time, the losses can be twofold.”

The lower yield significantly drove up the price of Taif rose oil, with a bottle reaching SR1,800 — an increase of SR600 on last year’s price.

Al-Talhi said any unplanned climate shift posed a serious threat to such delicate agriculture and stressed the importance of protecting this symbol of regional culture: “The Taif rose is a reflection of who we are,” he told Arab News.

Hamid Al-Sufyani, who owns one of Al-Shafa’s historic rose farms, highlighted the growing global prestige of Taif rose products, which are used in the creation of some of the world’s most luxurious perfumes and exported to markets across Europe and the Gulf.

“Demand for Taif rose oil increases year after year,” he said. “It’s regarded as one of the purest and most valuable essential oils in the world. Just one bottle requires nearly 12,000 roses, each hand-picked with care.”

Al-Sufyani said the Taif rose was used to represent the city at international exhibitions and agricultural fairs.

“I’ve personally participated in events abroad and witnessed firsthand how the name ‘Taif’ is immediately associated with roses by enthusiasts around the world,” he explained.

“That reputation wasn’t built overnight; it’s the result of years of dedication by farmers and the continued support of various organizations.”

He emphasized that sustaining this reputation required not only consistent quality but also the need to stay up to date with advancements in distillation, preservation and marketing, and urged government institutions to increase their support for farmers, given the Taif rose’s cultural and economic importance.


Saudi foreign minister arrives in Istanbul for OIC meeting

Saudi foreign minister arrives in Istanbul for OIC meeting
Updated 13 sec ago
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Saudi foreign minister arrives in Istanbul for OIC meeting

Saudi foreign minister arrives in Istanbul for OIC meeting

ISTANBUL: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, arrived in Istanbul on Friday to take part in the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The high-level meeting, to be hosted by Turkiye, will see foreign ministers from OIC member states convene on Saturday to discuss avenues for strengthening joint multilateral cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The agenda also includes deliberations on regional developments and their broader international implications, SPA added.

The gathering comes amid heightened tensions across parts of the Islamic world, with participants expected to address key geopolitical challenges and reaffirm the OIC’s collective stance on pressing issues.


Recess evening at Hayy Jameel celebrates youth, creativity, alternative learning

Recess evening at Hayy Jameel celebrates youth, creativity, alternative learning
Updated 24 min 39 sec ago
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Recess evening at Hayy Jameel celebrates youth, creativity, alternative learning

Recess evening at Hayy Jameel celebrates youth, creativity, alternative learning
  • Conclusion of flagship after-school initiative

JEDDAH: Hayy Jameel has hosted Recess: Closing Conversations to mark the conclusion of its flagship after-school initiative for teenagers.

The evening offered a platform to revisit the transformative journey of the program’s first cohort, and featured thoughtful exchanges with the learning team at Hayy, along with mentors who guided the students through the months-long experience.

The session welcomed reflections from mentors including Dr. Effat Fadag, Saudi artist and founder of Naqsh Art Studio; Rizwana Anwer, educator and alternative learning advocate; Sahrish Ali and Nayla Attar, artist-teachers and members of the learning team at Hayy Jameel; and Abdelelah Qutub, exhibition designer and program mentor. 

Speaking about the inspiration behind Recess, Attar said: “After all these foundations were laid out, we were really trying to create a comprehensive program, something that teaches teenagers how to navigate skills and topics usually reserved for much later in life.

“We wanted them to get a glimpse of what it means to move from high school into a design-thinking process, and even into the contemporary art world. There’s a big gap in how people perceive and interact with art, especially in Saudi, and Recess was about bridging that.”

Ali stressed the importance of creating lifelong learning spaces, and said: “We started by developing a program for kids aged 5 to 13, but we noticed a gap when it came to teens, so we built this program with weekly after-school sessions, combining core theoretical knowledge, practical art studio time, and mentorship from creatives in our network.”

Fadag said: “It’s not just about hearing, but listening. Listening helps promote the inner voice. One of the most important things for me was encouraging students to ask questions like ‘Why are we doing this?’ and to integrate research and critical thinking into their work. Art challenges us to negotiate identity and social engagement, and this is what we tried to bring into the program.”

Anwer brought an educator’s lens shaped by both international teaching experience and homeschooling, and said: “I came from a traditional academic background, but as a teacher I saw how many students struggled with that model.

“When I became a parent I knew I didn’t want to put my children in the same system. Homeschooling and unschooling helped me realize that learning can be more holistic and individual. That’s what we tried to reflect in Recess.”

Qutub, who boasts an architecture background, emphasized the importance of spatial thinking and collaborative presentation, and said: “Students had a tendency to view their work in isolation, so I worked with them to think about how their pieces related to one another and to the space as a whole.

“My role was to get them production-ready, to help them engage with the real-world process of creating and displaying artwork, and to see themselves as part of a collective dialogue.”

The showcase at Hayy Jameel featured the works of 10 young artists, with each piece a reflection of their journey through Recess. The multidisciplinary program, which ran from February to May, offered a structured yet flexible curriculum blending theoretical sessions, practical workshops, field trips, and portfolio development.

Through art-making, mentorship, and cultural engagement, the students explored themes like identity, nature, technology, and personal narrative, resulting in works that invited reflection and dialogue.

Hadeel Felemban, learning assistant at Hayy Jameel, said: “The program was mainly designed for high-school students who are passionate about pursuing art at a higher level.

“It ran over the course of several months, with weekly Saturday sessions that combined theory, practical work, and mentorship from artists and educators. The students learned about the creative process behind artworks and exhibitions, built their own portfolios, and engaged with different departments at Hayy, including the exhibition, cinema, and public programs teams. They also had weekly interventions with guest artists and visited cultural sites like the Islamic Biennale and Al-Balad.”

As the mentors gathered with students one last time for Closing Conversations, the atmosphere was charged with pride, curiosity, and a shared sense of accomplishment.

Young artist Aleen Alqurashi shared how the program had transformed her perspective on both art and herself, saying: “I honestly didn’t think I had any talent in art; I just joined because I wanted to improve.

“But throughout this program, it really helped me see things differently; not just in art, but in life. I discovered talents I didn’t know I had, and I wanted my final project to carry a deeper meaning, something people could relate to.”

Nooh Spurlock, 14, also a homeschooled student and the son of mentor Rizwana Anwer, participated in the program with a concept that merged creativity, gaming, and self-exploration.

He said: “My work is about a video game — are you inside your mind when you’re fighting against yourself?

“I was inspired by a lot of things: different video games, different elements from that genre. The mentors connected me with game developers who helped me with the research and planning.” 

His final project, titled “Into the Mind,” was a video game set inside the player’s consciousness, in which one must battle different versions of themselves. The game featured three levels, each representing a specific emotion, with each stage designed to mentally and emotionally prepare the player for the next.


Taif Municipality launches tree-planting initiative

Taif Municipality launches tree-planting initiative
Updated 20 June 2025
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Taif Municipality launches tree-planting initiative

Taif Municipality launches tree-planting initiative
  • The mayor of Taif, Abdullah bin Khamis Al-Zaidi, affirmed that the municipality will help everyone meet the development needs of their neighborhoods

RIYADH: Taif Municipality launched the “Neighborhood Friends” initiative to establish a volunteer team to plant trees around housing units in the Taif governorate and identify the needs of occupants, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

According to SPA, the initiative aims to enhance communication with beneficiaries of developmental housing, identify the units’ issues, engage volunteers in tree planting, activate professional volunteering, encourage individual participation, and acknowledge the importance of social responsibility in serving the community.

Engineers and specialists are also involved in this project.

The mayor of Taif, Abdullah bin Khamis Al-Zaidi, affirmed that the municipality will help everyone meet the development needs of their neighborhoods.

He also pointed out that this initiative is a pivotal intersection between community engagement and urban development, as it represents a collaborative process in which residents and other stakeholders work together to create a shared vision for their neighborhood’s future.


Healthy demand — pumpkin production on the rise in Qassim

Healthy demand — pumpkin production on the rise in Qassim
Updated 20 June 2025
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Healthy demand — pumpkin production on the rise in Qassim

Healthy demand — pumpkin production on the rise in Qassim
  • Promising crop supports local food safety and achieves notable economic revenues

BURAIDAH: It may be classed as a fruit, but pumpkin has become a key ingredient in cuisines around the world, thanks to its versatility and nutritional value.

And in Qassim, thanks to a favorable climate and agricultural conditions coupled with rising local demand, pumpkin production is enjoying significant growth.

Farmer Saleh bin Hamad Al-Saab spoke to the media about his experience of growing the fruit. (SPA)

Recorded health benefits of eating pumpkin include enhanced vision and better immunity. It also supports heart health, helps weight loss and promotes healthy skin and hair, as well as providing important nutrients and being low in calories.

Farmer Saleh bin Hamad Al-Saab spoke to the media about his experience of growing the fruit.

Possible, beneficial and promising

“Pumpkin cultivation in Qassim is not only possible, but also beneficial and promising,” he said.

“There are different kinds, including field pumpkin, butternut squash, kabocha squash, and even spaghetti squash, which is gaining increasing popularity.”

Each variety has its own uses and benefits. Field pumpkin is used in soups and baked goods, while butternut squash is a rich source of beta-carotene and spaghetti squash is a healthier alternative to pasta. As for white pumpkin, it is especially popular for festive decorations and seasonal occasions.

Recorded health benefits of eating pumpkin include enhanced vision and better immunity. (FILE/AFP)

Al-Saab said that as pumpkin did not need huge amounts of water or pesticides to grow successfully, and it could be stored for long periods without deteriorating, it was considered a promising economic crop. Drip irrigation systems and the cultivation of diverse varieties have also significantly enhanced crop quality and boosted productivity.

The farmer highlighted the public’s growing awareness of pumpkin as a healthy food choice and said there were a number of opportunities to develop other industries around the crop, such as juices, dehydrated foods and cosmetics.

This promising crop supports local food safety and achieves notable economic revenues, reflecting the agricultural sector’s role in meeting the Kingdom’s sustainable development targets.


Solstice ushers in start of summer 2025 on Saturday

Solstice ushers in start of summer 2025 on Saturday
Updated 20 June 2025
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Solstice ushers in start of summer 2025 on Saturday

Solstice ushers in start of summer 2025 on Saturday
  • It is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere

RIYADH: The summer solstice, which marks the season’s astronomical beginning, will take place on Saturday, June 21, according to the Jeddah Astronomical Society.

The Kingdom will witness the solstice at 5.42 a.m. Makkah time, when the sun will be directly overhead above the Tropic of Cancer, latitude .
The skies of the Kingdom and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere will witness the summer solstice Saturday at 5:42 am Makkah time.

At this moment, the sun will be directly overhead above the Tropic of Cancer, latitude 23.5 degrees north. This year, the summer will last for 93 days.

Majed Abu Zahra, head of the Jeddah Astronomical Society, said: “On this day, the sun rises from the far northeast and sets in the far northwest. At noon, the shadows of objects are the shortest of the year, and the sun’s apparent path takes its highest arc northward, placing it at its highest altitude in the sky during the year, especially in areas north of the equator.”

The summer solstice occurs when the sun reaches its apparent northernmost point in the sky. This coincides with the Earth reaching a position in its orbit where its axis is tilted at the maximum angle (23.5 degrees) toward the sun, causing the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, the situation is reversed.

Abu Zahra added: “The summer solstice does not occur on the same day every year, but rather between June 20 and 22, due to the difference between the calendar year (365 days) and the tropical year (365.2422 days), along with the gravitational effects of the moon and planets and the slight fluctuations in the Earth’s rotation, which are compensated for by adding a leap day every four years.”

He said it was important to differentiate between the astronomical summer and climatic summer.

Meteorologists consider summer to extend from June 1 to August 31, while in astronomy, summer begins when the sun reaches its maximum altitude — the day of the summer solstice.

Abu Zahra said although this was the longest day of the year in terms of the number of hours of sunlight, it was not necessarily the hottest.

This is because the oceans, land and atmosphere take time to absorb and store solar energy, and then release it again. This delay in the perception of heat is known as “seasonal lag,” so temperatures typically peak in July or August.

Ancient Greek scholars, led by Eratosthenes, used their observations on the summer solstice to calculate the Earth’s circumference with amazing accuracy using simple geometric principles. 

After the summer solstice, the sun will appear to move southward again in the sky, and daylight hours will gradually decrease until the autumnal equinox on Sept. 22.