RIYADH — An exhibition for traditional handmade crafts was held at the Riyadh Airport Marriott Hotel by Dur Hospitality in cooperation with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage’s Saudi Handicrafts Program (Bari) and Turquoise Mountain.

The exhibit showcased 750 unique handicrafts which reflect authentic Saudi folklore. It is a prelude to a nationwide project Dur seeks to execute in support of The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cultural Heritage Program which aims to revive Saudi heritage through highlighting and preserving traditional handicrafts.

Dur’s CEO Dr. Badr Bin Hamoud Al Badr reiterated Dur’s dedication toward preserving handicrafts for their important role in highlighting authentic Saudi heritage and history. He added that the initiative comes as part of Dur’s Corporate Social Responsibility commitment and policy that seeks to support and protect the handicrafts sector, sustain its jobs, as well as create more jobs to encourage artisans to create and innovate further.

Moreover, Dr. Al Badr praised the four female artisans who ran the project, and thanked them on behalf of Dur for their efforts over the past six months which yielded the exhibited artifacts that have generated over SR150,000 ($40,000) in sales.

Dr. Faisal Al Khamees, Saudi Handicrafts Program’s General Superintendent, emphasized the importance of the handicrafts sector in preserving the Kingdom's national heritage. He lauded Dur’s initiative that sheds light on the sector and supports both male and female artisans. Furthermore, he expressed his gratitude to private companies including Dur which provided vital support towards planning, investing, and following up with craftsmen to ensure the program’s success. — SG