Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Monday, Jun 02, 2025

Ramadan festivities evoke nostalgia in Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad

The narrow alleys of the historic Al-Balad area of Jeddah have become filled with light and laughter as part of a program of evening cultural and entertainment activities for Ramadan.

Organized by the Saudi Ministry of Culture, events are taking place in special zones set up throughout the district.

Visitors at the Bab Al-Balad entrance are greeted with traditional Saudi coffee, while in the Mirkaz area they can play games, try their hand at arts and crafts, or sample gourmet food.

The Sardek zone features a Ramadan tent, cinema of the past, roaming characters, and a puppet theater.

The nights, part of the Ramadan Season of festivities, also include live cooking shows and Qur’an recitation contests.

Visitors at the Bab Al-Balad entrance are greeted with traditional Saudi coffee, while in the Mirkaz area they can play games, try their hand at arts and crafts, or sample gourmet food.


A bustling market offers a range of products including perfumes, pickles, tailor-made clothing, and accessories, or festivalgoers can watch games and popular Ramadan TV shows in an outdoor seating area.

Wearing Hijazi attire, Sari Salem Hariri, co-founder and general manager of Al-Mugasap, a Saudi traditional fashion clothing brand, said: “I am very excited to participate in the season and revive the Saudi traditional attire.

“We have installed a booth for visitors to try out the outfits and make a memory of our deep-rooted customs and traditions.”

Badriya Suleimany, who was selling homemade pickles at the event with her daughters, said: “I feel empowered to be a part of the Ramadan Season. I have been doing this business for the last five years, but this is the first time I have been out in the open area and meeting people from different nationalities.

“The real Ramadan vibes are in Al-Balad and it is something which everyone should visit to learn about our culture and holy month traditions.”

Visitors to Al-Balad can also listen to a Musaharati, a person who traditionally walks around a neighborhood beating a drum and chanting poetry to wake people for sahoor. And at various intervals, men in traditional costumes can be seen dancing to traditional songs.

The Musaharati traditionally walks around neighborhoods beating a drum and chanting poetry to wake people for Sahoor.


In addition, storytellers, known as Hakawati, can be heard narrating old Ramadan tales in Hazzazi square.

Saeed Al-Ghamdi, a resident of Jeddah had taken his grandchildren to the event especially for the Hakawati session.

He said: “In the old days, we used to gather and entertain ourselves with storytelling. There used to be master storytellers who shared Islamic tales and history as well as their own real-life stories. We learned from them and gained knowledge.

“Seeing this tradition back here in the festival made me nostalgic and I am glad to share with my grandchildren the beauty of Hakawati.”

Osman Abdullah, 70, from Jeddah, said: “After the Taraweeh, I used to spend time with friends in the neighborhood discussing and sharing religious Islamic stories. Coming to this historic district and witnessing the energetic environment took me back to those days.”

He added that Ramadan nights were special as they were a time when people not only sought spiritual development but socialized.

Another participant, Hadeel Alabbasi, co-founder and academic manager of Al-Kuttab language institute, said: “We invite family and friends to enjoy their time learning calligraphy, poetry, and Arabic this year while experiencing Al-Balad through us where we present the opportunity to learn about the values of Ramadan and the culture.”

A riddles session at the Hazzazi area.


At the Hazzazi area, located in Rubat Al-Khunji Al-Saghir, activities include making accessories, and learning about the history of the area through stories, solving riddles, playing traditional games, hunting for Ramadan treasure, and listening to poetry.

Sarah Hassan, who lives in Australia but always returns to her hometown of Jeddah for Ramadan, said: “I make sure to spend my entire Ramadan in Jeddah because of the vibe which is not the same anywhere in the world. Saudi Arabia is the best place to be during the holy month.

“Coming to Al-Balad with my children, I can teach them the culture and show them how Ramadan is celebrated in the country. We had a good time walking the streets, trying snacks like balila, French fries, luqaimat, and sipping the very famous Vimto drink.”

The ministry has also organized a history of Jeddah exhibition highlighting important archaeological sites, plus a separate display showcasing ancient coins and stamps from different periods in Jeddah’s past.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
×