SABIC’s efforts to preserve national heritage win praise

The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) is the gold sponsor of the Souk Okaz Festival, which was inaugurated by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, governor of Makkah and chairman of the festival’s Supreme Supervisory Committee, on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, in Taif.
Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thenayan Al-Saud, chairman of SABIC and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, and Mohamed Al-Mady, SABIC vice chairman and CEO, attended the ceremony.
Prince Khaled praised SABIC for its sponsorship of national events out of its strong sense of corporate responsibility toward Saudi society and culture.
For his part, Prince Saud lauded the sincere efforts of Prince Khaled in reliving the Souk Okaz Arab tradition and preserving its heritage as a grand national festival.
The event has attracted several global and Arab organizations and a number of visitors and international groups involved in culture, poetry, literature and heritage.
Souk Okaz is an important cultural festival of Saudi Arabia portraying the ancient heritage of the Kingdom.
It is held annually by the Makkah Region Governorate in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Culture and Information.
The festival includes seminars attended by Arab writers and intellectuals, fine arts exhibitions, and photography events.
It also features a traditional march of horses and camels. Craftsmen and artisans also present their wares in the popular market.
Souk Okaz presents eight awards in various categories including, Okaz Poet, Okaz Young Poet, Poem, Calligraphy, Creativity and Scientific Excellence, Photography, Crafts and Folklore.