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CULTURE & HERITAGE

Dates for your diary: A Saudi cultural calendar

Saudi locals love nothing more than to celebrate their culture and boy do they do that with aplomb. Here’s our Saudi cultural calendar so you don’t miss a party…

By Scott Campbell

Whether it’s Saudi coffee, dates or culture, Saudi take great pride in showcasing their heritage through special cultural events and festivals.

Even though the main bulk of Saudi’s festivals take place in the cooler months there is always something going on, so whether you want to absorb the rich history, celebrate citrus fruits or revel in the desert scenery, there’s a festival here for you…

January

Saudi boasts a variety of musical and performing arts that vary greatly depending on tribe and location. For a taste of the nation’s diverse backgrounds, attend the annual week-long Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performing Arts. The festival is held in the southwestern province of Asir at a variety of locations and features dances, music and poetry recitals unique to the mountain tribes. Each dance showcases a different story, such as some to reflect love and others to act out a historical ruckus. Along with Saudi tribes, the festival also features acts from nations such as Georgia and Morocco.

February

The winter months bolster many festivals in Saudi due to the cool weather and love for outdoor events. For a diverse mix of cultural, sports and entertainment events, visiting Riyadh Season is a must. Riyadh Season is a festival that runs from late October to early March. To better experience the traditional Saudi string instrument performances and events, make sure to attend the festival during the cooler winter months. Due to its tie to the capital city, Riyadh Season is one of the largest festivals in the nation and thus features the biggest variety of foods and shows.

March

Ring in the spring with Sharqiah Season, a festival that celebrates the warm culture of the Eastern Province or “Sharqiah.” Shariqah is a cultural melting pot due to its location along the Arabian Gulf and the festival shows off this diversity by showcasing traditions such as basket weaving with palm leaves, traditional dances, and more. Make sure you grab a souvenir by picking up a basket woven out of local palm stalks or adorn yourself in temporary henna tattoos by local artists. Per Saudi hospitality and tradition, you will leave the festival with both your heart and belly full of tasty local treats. It features international artists, traditional events, film screenings and a range of sporting events.

April

If spring florals are what you desire, head down to Taif’s Rose Festival. The annual festival commemorates the rose flower with cultural exhibitions and a plethora of harvests. The outdoor event is a marvellous site; expect to roam around floral arches of pinks and rosy reds and get the chance to smell the sweet flowers being used for perfumes and oils across the globe. Outside of its captivating aroma, the rose is also featured in rosewater and is commonly incorporated in Saudi sweets. Try the rosewater yourself in syrup drizzled on top of desserts or as a floral flavouring in almond coffee and tea. Taif also offers horse hikes in the mountains, which are rich with pomegranate farms along the way.

May

Located along the Red Sea coast halfway between Jeddah and Jazan, Al Qunfudhah’s annual five-day Mango Festival is held on the city’s corniche area. For an area that boasts 3,000 mango farms and 500,000 mango trees, there’s no better place to celebrate this tropical fruit, offering a unique window into the world of mangos.

June

During the summer months, fruit is a must. Often offered to guests as a form of hospitality, Saudi’s land allows for a variety of fruit to grow. The city of Jazan in the south of Saudi is renowned for their incredibly sweet mangos. Get a taste of Jazan’s gems by attending their annual Mango and Tropical Fruits Festival, held for a month from May to June in Sabya. With over a million mango trees in the area and figs, papayas and bananas to match, you will not be short a fresh and flavourful fruit for the summer. The festival also features a range of the region’s agricultural products, handicrafts and more.

July

For a true summer experience by the glittering waters of the Red Sea, head to Jeddah’s annual Summer Festival. The festival starts in late June and runs through mid-July, showcasing both local and international musical acts, seafood caught fresh from the nearing waters and a chance to swim and dive through a plethora of group excursions. Jeddah is culturally different from its sister metropolitan cities of Riyadh and Dammam. All three have different charms that turn bright in the summer months and creative with their methods of beating the heat. For something different, head to AlUla and Umluj for the four-day Mango Week celebrations.

August

Save a date for the Buraidah Date Festival. If the sticky date varieties of Al Ahsa are not for you, take a chance at exploring other varieties of the nation’s favourite fruit. The Qassim region where the Buraidah Date Festival is held boasts the highest number of palm trees in the Kingdom, at 11.4 million evergreen palms. Enjoy the various date varieties with a cup of Arabic coffee while attending one of many cultural shows held at this festival. Beyond dates, it also marks various parts of the country’s heritage, from mud-brick construction to traditional farming songs for an authentic peek into the past.

For fruits outside of the beloved sphere of dates, head to Taif’s new Summer Fruits Festival to get a taste of local pears, apricots, pomegranates, honey and more.

September

During the month of September, cities across the nation light up green and white in honour of the country’s National Day on the 23rd. National day is a unique time to experience the pride and patriotism of Saudis. Choose to experience the holiday in the capital of Riyadh or head out to Dhahran in the Eastern Province to enjoy the celebrations at Ithra (King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture) for live music and cultural shows. Make sure to end your night by heading outside to view the sparkling green and white fireworks among the stars. In fact, every corner in the country has something going on to mark National Day, whether it’s fireworks, parades or concerts.

(Shutterstock)

October

Globally renowned for their sticky sweet dates, a visit to the city of Al Ahsa’s annual Date Festival is a must. Bolstering dozens of varieties of dates, the festival showcases and sells date molasses, sugar, spreads, coffees and more. Take the chance to speak to local farmers and learn more about dates while surrounded by the palm farms themselves. If you are lucky, you may even catch the infamous molasses fountain – a large tower of syrupy sweet molasses that you can dip biscuits and cake in. Note the festival’s timing varies from early winter to February, depending on the year’s harvests. October is also when the spectacular Riyadh Season launches. One of the world’s largest winter entertainment events, Riyadh Season celebrates every element of Saudi culture, from its Najdi heritage to its rapidly modernising dynamism.

King Abdullah Grand Mosque, Thuwal (Shutterstock)

November

The start of Diriyah Season, November is the perfect time to head to Diriyah, just outside of the capital of Riyadh. Diriyah Season (part of the bigger Riyadh Season also happening at this time of year) is an all-encompassing festival that runs through the month to commemorate the area’s historical structure, origins of the nation’s House of Saud. A UNESCO heritage site known as the birthplace of the nation, Diriyah becomes the home of a number of musical and sports events during winter. Sports from BMX to e-sports are held alongside cultural performances. Use the festival as an opportunity to try Saudi cuisine, with a number of booths offering local coffee, sweets made of dates and a unique plethora of fusion cuisine. For the best experience, try to head to an event during the evening to feel the chill of the Saudi desert and be warmed by the lively people and culture that awaits you.

December

For a chance to explore traditional Arabic music, head down to Winter at Tantora. The festival is the Kingdom’s first music and arts annual event and takes place in AlUla. Winter at Tantora features a variety of celebrations such as the AlUla Citrus Festival which highlights the regions sweet and sour fruits, traditional Arabic poetry recitals and immersive shows that highlight the history of the region surrounding AlUla and the Arabian peninsula.

To keep up with Saudi arts and the film industry, you can head over to Jeddah for the Red Sea International Film Festival. The annual film festival garners stars from across the globe to celebrate and honour films and documentaries from Arab and international origins alike.

Practical information

Visas

It’s surprisingly simple and easy to get an e-Visa for Saudi and the process is very similar to applying for an ESTA for the USA. Over 50 nationalities are eligible to apply for an e-Visa, including people from the UK and USA, with it costing (at the time of writing) 535 Saudi riyals (about £115 or US$143). Applications are swift and nearly all applicants will receive a response within three working days – most within 24 hours. To apply for your Saudi e-Visa, visit the official Saudi Tourism Authority website. If you’re from the USA, UK or the Schengen Area, you can also apply for a visa on arrival into Saudi. It’s slightly cheaper than an e-Visa, too, at SAR480 (about £102 or US$128).

Getting there & around

With plenty of direct flight links from the UK to Saudi, it’s really easy to get to the country. Saudi’s national airline SAUDIA flies to Riyadh three times daily from London Heathrow, while British Airways also offers a regular service from Heathrow with daily flights to the capital. SAUDIA also operates twice daily flights to Jeddah from London Heathrow and daily flights from London Gatwick. If you’re travelling from the US, SAUDIA offers direct flights to Riyadh from both New York City and Washington, D.C., as well as direct flights to Jeddah from New York City, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles.

Local customs

To really embrace Saudi life and pay respect towards its traditions, there are a few local customs you should abide when travelling around the country. Both men and women should wear clothing that covers their elbows and below their knees when out in public. If you’re heading to the coast, it’s still expected you dress modestly. When meeting and greeting locals, whether it’s a market stallholder or a private guide, say hello with ‘salam alaykum’, which means ‘peace be upon you’, as well as offering a handshake.

Weather

You might think it’s hot all year round in Saudi but it’s a little more nuanced than that. The best time to visit Riyadh is between October and March, when temperatures can dip as low as 20°C during the daytime and rarely exceed 30°C. Summer months in Riyadh can get extremely hot, with temperatures often above 40°C between June and September.

FAQ

Is English spoken in Saudi?

Arabic is the official national language but English is widely spoken.

What is the currency of Saudi?

The currency of Saudi is the riyal, with the current rate (at the time of writing), around SAR4.76 to the UK£. You’ll need to pre-order money before you travel, as in the UK it’s not usually stocked in currency exchange booths.

What’s it like travelling in Saudi as a female?

We think you’d be surprised! To find out more, read our first-hand account on what it’s like to travel in Saudi.

What’s the time difference in Saudi?

Saudi follows Arabia Standard Time (GMT +3) all year round.