At a Glance

  • Date: 16 February 2025
  • Location: King Khalid Cultural Center – Buraidah

The 16th Kaleeja Festival, organized and operated by the Qassim Chamber at the King Khalid Cultural Center in Buraidah, is drawing notable turnout from craftspeople, artists and home-based producing families, who are creating innovative handmade products reflecting folk heritage and Saudi identity. The festival gives visitors a unique opportunity to connect directly with traditional craftsmen and enjoy an authentic experience in the world of heritage industries and popular cuisine.

Turning Natural Materials into Works of Art

Among the participants, traditional artist Basma Al-Muqbil stands out. A certified trainer at the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, she works on recycling discarded tamarisk wood and turning it into commemorative shields and household items inspired by Najdi identity. Thanks to her skill with traditional tools such as chisels, compasses, engraving tools and awls, Basma has turned her passion for art into a global career, having led workshops at the British Museum, in Italy, and across Gulf countries to introduce the world to Najdi arts.

Handmade Crafts with an Authentic Character

Craftswoman Nadiba Al-Rashidi is showcasing her creations in traditional wooden door-making, using local natural materials. She explained that each region has its own distinctive style in door design: the Najdi door, for example, is made with three crossbars, while doors from Hail feature four crossbars, and doors from Al-Ahsa carry the distinctive "musmari" (nail-studded) style.

Authentic Popular Foods Made by Home-Based Producing Families

Saada Al-Harbi, one of the festival's longest-participating home-based producing families, brings more than 28 years of experience making traditional products from sheep's milk, such as ghee, okka, buqul and khulasa, alongside heritage foods such as qashd and hanini, which still hold their place on the Saudi table.

The Kaleeja Festival: A Gateway for Craftspeople and Traditional Industry Pioneers

The Kaleeja Festival is an ideal platform to support local craftspeople and creatives and boost the sustainability of heritage crafts and traditional industries, contributing to empowering home-based producing families and providing a sustainable economic environment for Saudi handicrafts.