Hail, Saudi Arabia – January 4, 2025:
Under the patronage of Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz, Emir of the Hail region, the "Hirfa Festival" for handicrafts launches tomorrow evening at Qishlah Palace in Hail. The festival runs for five days, with the participation of more than 130 male and female craftspeople and more than 80 volunteers, celebrating the designation of 2025 as the "Year of Handicrafts."

Inherited Handmade Creations:

The festival highlights the skills and creativity that distinguish the Hail community through a wide range of traditional handicrafts and inherited arts, including:

  • Weaving and handmade crafts.
  • Pottery-making and traditional attire.
  • Sewing, dyeing and blacksmithing.
  • Gold and jewelry making, and coppersmithing.

The festival offers an opportunity to showcase the region's heritage and highlight the importance of handicrafts in strengthening local culture and national identity.

Festival Goals:

The Hirfa Festival comes as part of the targets of Saudi Vision 2030, which places great emphasis on:

  • Strengthening the handicrafts sector and its role in the local economy.
  • Enabling craftspeople to showcase and sell their products and support their small businesses.
  • Providing seasonal job opportunities for young men and women in the region.
  • Reinforcing handicrafts' standing as part of the national cultural and economic heritage.

Diverse Activities and a Distinctive Experience:

The festival opens its doors daily from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., offering a distinctive experience that combines entertainment, awareness-raising about handicrafts, and marketing. Activities include:

  • Diverse craft corners showcasing the work of participating entities.
  • Entertainment and cultural events suitable for all age groups and nationalities.
  • Opportunities to watch craftspeople at work and purchase their unique handmade products.

The festival reflects the Hail region's commitment to developing handicrafts as part of its cultural and economic movement, and supports the local community through partnerships with government and private entities, making it an integrated platform for showcasing Saudi creativity.