Multi-colored flowered butterflies carpet Yanbu for its fourth flower exhibition. Half a million colorful flowers are spread over 3,000 square meters along the streets of the city center leading to the beach. The Royal Commission of Yanbu organizes the event with over 30 companies sponsoring the event. The flowers have poured in from all over the Kingdom. The first festival was held four years ago and has become an annual event. The main purpose is to inform the public and increase awareness of nature. The commission also wants to attract tourists to the coastal city during the festival which will last for ten days, from March 1-10.
Hamid Subaih, director of the road and landscaping department and head of the organizing committee of the flower festival, said that the Royal Commission wanted to attract people from inside and outside Yanbu. “The commission is trying to be different from last year by adding additional activities and special programs,” said Hamid. He added, “we welcome everyone to this festival which is one of the most beautiful open exhibitions not only in the Kingdom but in the Middle East.”
As in previous years, the focal point of the festival is the flower rug. This year it is bigger than last year and so the number of flowers is greater. Last year an estimated 350,000 flowers were used and this year, the number has reached 500,000. At the scene of the rug, the commission mobilized manpower to create the magic flower rug and to transform the beach into a state of the art picture.
Saleh Muhammad Al-Juhani, a resident of Old Yanbu, told us that he and his family visited last year’s festival and will certainly visit this year’s. He said, “It draws attention to our city. Saudis never think of us as a tourist location except for divers and fishermen, few people come here. The festival is amazing, especially since it involves flowers and we are not used to seeing so many in one place. I have been encouraged to grow some flowers at home.”
Abdul Raheem Ahmad, a student at the Yanbu Industrial College, said, “The festival includes everybody — men, women and children. I am looking forward to the special youth activities. What is so good is that the festival doesn’t leave out young people. I am looking forward to the games and the water sports.” Hamid said “There are more than 100 activities for Saudi youth, including sporting, cultural, social and entertainment activities.” He also pointed out, “There are special activities for women and children in a special place which is managed by the staff of the Center for Women’s Activities.”
Um Anas, a mother of five from Madinah, said, “It is worth coming to the event. As a mother, it is something perfect for my family. Yanbu is beginning to compete with other festivals like the ones in Jeddah and Riyadh. The idea is fantastic and we thank the organizers at the Royal Commission.”
Said Hamid, “We have already begun planning for the fifth flower festival next year. We promise to surprise the public again next year with activities that will attract more people to the 21st century city of Yanbu. Our main goal is to get into the Guinness Book of Records.”
