logo
‘Color Your Summer' program reflects Saudi diversity, targets 41m visitors

‘Color Your Summer' program reflects Saudi diversity, targets 41m visitors

Arab News21-06-2025

The Saudi Tourism Authority has launched 'Color Your Summer,' a program showcasing Saudi Arabia's natural and cultural diversity, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. The initiative will run until the end of September.
Activities will be hosted in six main destinations 'that blend the sea and mountains and merge adventure with relaxation.'
The STA expects the program to attract more than 41 million visitors from inside and outside the Kingdom this year, with projected tourism spending surpassing SR73 billion ($19.47 billion).
Asir will host its Summer Season, featuring 'a rich array of musical, artistic, and cultural events such as Al-Muftaha Village and the Plato Event,' as well as 'adventure trails and outdoor activities amid lofty mountains and pleasant weather, while the region's ancient stone houses evoke a rich cultural memory, adding an authentic touch for visitors.'
The STA, in partnership with Jazeera Airways, recently announced that direct flights from Kuwait to Asir will be available three times a week from July 15 until the end of September, strengthening the airline's presence in the Saudi market and supporting the authority's efforts to promote various summer destinations in the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Riyadh will make its mark this summer by hosting the second Esports World Cup from July 8 to Aug. 24, which is set to attract visitors from around the world. 'The city is also a hub for artistic and cultural events and a variety of entertainment shows throughout the summer,' the SPA stated.
Jeddah will be welcoming visitors with new beaches and luxury resorts this summer, and its diverse selection of marine activities and 'relaxation events' make it 'the right place for family and water sports enthusiasts alike,' the SPA wrote, adding: 'Visitors can explore City Walk and circus performances at Circus 1903.'
Sheybarah and Ummahat islands will also be featured as part of the Kingdom's luxury tourism network. 'With their white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and colorful coral reefs, the islands add a maritime adventure to the portfolio of the Kingdom's destinations,' the SPA stated.
Taif will greet its summer visitors this year with 'refreshing mountain breezes and the fragrant blooms of Taif roses in Arruddaf Park, nestled between traditional markets and lush orchards,' according to the SPA. 'Meanwhile, Al-Shafa and Al-Hada mountains cast a magical misty aura, providing experiences for adventure and culture enthusiasts steeped in the city's rich heritage and history.'
And in Baha, visitors will encounter 'stunning natural beauty from the heights of the mountains to the depths of the valleys in Raghadan Forest.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Where We Are Going Today: Kold Kombucha in Alkhobar
Where We Are Going Today: Kold Kombucha in Alkhobar

Arab News

time5 hours ago

  • Arab News

Where We Are Going Today: Kold Kombucha in Alkhobar

In the heart of historic northern Alkhobar, newly established Kold Kombucha is putting the spotlight on kombucha, a naturally fizzy fermented tea with roots in East Asia dating back over 2,000 years. The compact, design-forward shop — opened this month by popular Saudi Snapchat personality Hammam Al-Mulhem — is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia spotlighting kombucha, which is brewed on-site in large fermentation vessels over 11 days using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast known as SCOBY. Marked by a bold painted mural at the entrance, the hole-in-the-wall space receives a steady stream of curious visitors, notably young men who are fans of the Snapchat star. Three core flavors rotate on tap. The beetroot is deep and earthy — slightly sour, complex — almost like a liquid snack. The apple cinnamon is my personal favorite: smooth and warming — pure autumn in a glass, while strawberry mint, bright and refreshing, hits just right on a blazing Eastern Province afternoon. Each bottle goes for between SR23 ($6) to SR25. They also offer a chocolate chip dessert, and for those not quite ready to dive into the world of kombucha, there are coffees available too. I stopped by straight from the airport — jet-lagged, dehydrated and craving something light but nourishing. Kold delivered. Seating — like nearby parking spaces — is limited. Kold Kombucha is open daily from 4 p.m. to midnight. Find them on Instagram at @

Rooted in earth: Rafha's mud structures tell a story of sustainability
Rooted in earth: Rafha's mud structures tell a story of sustainability

Arab News

time5 hours ago

  • Arab News

Rooted in earth: Rafha's mud structures tell a story of sustainability

RIYADH: In the heart of northern Saudi Arabia, the mud buildings of Rafha stand as 'a vibrant narrative of traditional architecture, reflecting authenticity, creativity, and cultural identity,' the Saudi Press Agency said in an article on Saturday. These structures tell the story of an ancient past, 'embodying traditional architectural ingenuity that connects people to the land.' Located along one of the Kingdom's most significant tourist routes, the buildings 'integrate cultural heritage with the natural environment,' the SPA wrote, and 'serve as living records of generational memory, preserved through architectural details.' This makes them an appealing destination for anyone interested in history, heritage, and traditional craftsmanship. • The buildings in Rafha were constructed using indigenous methods and natural materials including mud, stone, wood, and palm fronds. • Local authorities are making efforts to restore and maintain these mud structures, preserving their historical and cultural value. The buildings were constructed using indigenous methods and natural materials including mud, stone, wood, and palm fronds. Their design responds to the local environment, maintaining balanced indoor temperatures during scorching summers and cooler winters. Most feature an inner courtyard, surrounded by rooms arranged in a circular layout, reflecting a strong sense of community. These mud buildings illustrate 'a deep harmony between humans and their environment,' the SPA wrote, adding that they also 'reflect sustainable building principles that long predate modern green architecture.' Local authorities are making efforts to restore and maintain these mud structures, preserving their historical and cultural value while promoting them as distinct parts of the Saudi tourism landscape.

Jeddah exhibition gives internet cafes an artistic reboot
Jeddah exhibition gives internet cafes an artistic reboot

Arab News

time5 hours ago

  • Arab News

Jeddah exhibition gives internet cafes an artistic reboot

JEDDAH: Internet cafes in Jeddah were once popular spots with pay-by-the-hour internet access; they have now provided the inspiration for the city's latest exhibition. In a collaboration between Kham Space and Estiraha, 17 artists and collectives have had their work on display at 'Internet Cafe,' an eight-day exhibition which explored the concept of connection and intimacy in the digital age. Abeer Sultan, who curated the exhibition alongside Mbarak Madhi and Fai Ahmed, spoke to Arab News about the early process in contemplating the theme. The idea for the exhibition, which concluded on Friday, stemmed from an exasperation over incessant scrolling, and the deluge of information that has usurped our daily lives. • The idea for the Jeddah exhibition stemmed from an exasperation over incessant scrolling, and the deluge of information that has usurped our daily lives. • Some of the works were meant to act as 'hyperlinks' to connect ideas, as well as creating a communal space and mimicking the social space of a cafe. She said: 'We wanted to do something that is about us now, and maybe the future as well; not only going back to things for nostalgia or the good old days, as they say. 'Maybe it has something that we can use today, especially now that there's a movement of people trying to slow down, using dumbified devices throughout the internet.' Instead of creating a literal internet cafe, the curators focused more on the nuances a cybercafe used to have. Their approach to the space was categorized into three themes: 'Disconnected Understanding, Linked Source,' 'In the Shadow of a Doubt, Light My Screen,' and 'Whirling Algorithms of a Distant Dream.' Artist Zahiyah Alraddadi, who usually paints works focusing on the significance of the mundane, took oil to canvas to paint 'Closed Eyes Under a Sunny Sky I' and 'Familiar Features.' Her work feels meditative and was intended to slow visitors down as they walked through the space — much like the feel of a buffering screen page. Some of the works were meant to act as 'hyperlinks' to connect ideas, as well as creating a communal space and mimicking the social space of a cafe. Anhar Salem's work 'After Now' was a curtain imprinted with thumbnails of YouTube videos. The artist conducted a survey asking people between the ages of 18 and 40 to share their YouTube video recommendations, making up a curtain of information overload. Next to that, Tara O‛Conal's video installation was a film sequence — but the catch is, nothing really happened. The film continued to load, glitch, and reload, perhaps suggesting commentary on our constant yearning for contact. 'Compared to Anhar's work, (Tara's) feels like a pawn, in a way, to look at,' Sultan said. Some works were inspired by computer graphics. Asaad Badawi paid tribute to early programmer culture via telephone-book-inspired art, and his father, who is a programmer. Studio bin Hattan, which is led by artist Elham Dawsari, displayed 'Cultural Override,' derived from her father's archives from the 1980s. Madhawi Al-Gwaiz paints in a style that echoes digital graphics from the early 2000s. Others took a more distanced approach. ThirdSpace's 'Untitled Table' was a physical object, but the research behind it was about keyboards that then shifted to Hijazi architecture, drawing on the iconography and architectural languages across the history of the region. Hayfa Al-Gwaiz's 'Long Distance' was a painted form of facetime video calls. The work explored digital intimacy by showcasing not the callers' faces, but the ceilings above them — a scene that's familiar to anyone who has taken up a long-winded video call with a loved one and set down the phone to cater to life's more immediate demands. While the exhibition tackled the digital boom personified through cybercafes, it notably avoided artificial intelligence. Sultan explained: 'It is the idea of being fast and efficient, which is what we are resisting with AI … It's dominating the internet in a weird way, and we wanted a space where people customized things manually, going back to montadayat (domains) where people had to do things by themselves. There's no template.' The last piece was by Ahaad Alamoudi, and 'Land of Dreams' took a humorous approach to directing audiences to their dreams. As you walked toward the work, in an outdoor area outside the confines of the exhibition space, visitors were met with foam boards of the iconic Emirati singer Ahlam. Sultan said: 'The work accentuates the fact that the dream land is a subjective experience or idea, and everyone would have their own imagination of what that is, whether it's Ahlam or something else.' The 'Internet Cafe' was a love letter to a new digital age — one that is sustainable, communal, and deliberately slow. 'This is our way of keeping in touch with other people. An exhibition space is also a space where people meet, even if it's for a moment, to have these conversations together, which is really important,' Sultan said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store