Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, visited a painting show titled “Haj — Journey Over the Ages,” which was organized by artist Reem Nazer at Jeddah Mayoralty.

Speaking to reporters, Prince Sultan said he was really impressed by the artworks that depicted Makkah and Madinah during Haj seasons in the past as well as the arrival of pilgrim caravans at Saudi ports.

Accompanied by Nazer and her husband, Prince Sultan toured the show of oil paintings that also focused on pilgrims in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifa. “This is a marvelous work,” the SCTA chief said and advised Jeddah residents and tourists to visit the show.

Prince Sultan also stressed the need to hold the show in other Saudi cities as well as in foreign capitals.

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal opened the show on Nov. 2 in the presence of Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja.

In a related development, the SCTA Branch Office in Jeddah has issued seven operation licenses for tourist facilities. These include a hotel and six furnished apartments.

“These licenses are issued for the first time by the office,” an SCTA official said. The SCTA headquarters has given mandate to provincial branches to issue local operation licenses.

“This move will boost regional tourism,” said Mohammad bin Abdullah Al-Amri, executive director or the commission’s Makkah regional branch office.