The three-month programme places the oasis’s agricultural heritage alongside cultural and interactive attractions, with activities spanning arts, literature and traditional crafts.
Al-Ahsa’s Palm Village has opened its third edition, bringing more than 15 new cultural, artistic and interactive experiences to the Eastern Province destination.
Governor of Al-Ahsa and Chief Executive Officer of the Al-Ahsa Development Authority Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr inaugurated the village, according to the Saudi Press Agency’s opening announcement, published on 12 November.
Set among the oasis’s palm groves, the site covers more than 90,000 square metres.
This edition includes more than 30 restaurants and cafés and over 35 stalls featuring local products and handicrafts, with programming scheduled to continue for three months.
What Families Can Explore
The programme includes a palm museum, interactive theatre and traditional folk performances. Cultural houses will feature literature, the arts, handicrafts and local heritage, Arab News reports.
For families, the combination offers several ways to explore the relationship between palm cultivation and everyday life in Al-Ahsa, from the products on sale to the crafts and performances presented across the village.
Waha Events, part of Waha Development, is organising and operating the destination, with supervision and strategic partnership from the Al-Ahsa Development Authority.
Supporting bodies include Al-Ahsa Municipality and the National Center for Palms and Dates.
The Oasis Behind the Experience
The wider setting gives the village’s agricultural theme a specific local context.
Al-Ahsa Oasis was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2018, recognising a cultural landscape shaped by gardens, springs, canals, settlements and generations of farming.
UNESCO describes the oasis as an example of how communities developed and maintained a settled agricultural landscape in a desert environment.
Its heritage includes water-management systems, historic buildings and continuing cultivation, connecting the landscape with the people who use it.
Palm Village’s programme draws on that living agricultural identity while providing space for local farmers, artisans and businesses.
Its emphasis on palm products and crafts offers visitors a contemporary introduction to traditions associated with the oasis.
Families planning a visit should check the organiser’s current programme and admission arrangements before travelling, particularly for specific performances or activities.
Read the official opening announcement for an overview of this year’s programme and participating organisations.
Further Reading
- The Groves Reopens in Riyadh With Circus Acts and a Candy-Themed Carnival
- Red Sea Museum in Jeddah Engages Families on International Museum Day
- Downe House Riyadh Opens Arabic Centre to Connect Students With Saudi Heritage