Culture & Education | Wednesday 21 August, 2019 2:18 am |

On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Region, this evening sponsored the Souk Okaz in Taif Season. The season is being held under the umbrella of Saudi Seasons, which is chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, Chairman of the Council for Economic Affairs and Development.

His Highness was received at Souk Okaz by His Excellency Mr. Ahmed bin Aqeel al-Khatib, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage and Chairman of the Taif Season Committee, and His Excellency Mr. Saad Bin Moqbel Al-Maimouni, the Governor of Taif. 

His Highness and the audience watched a visual presentation about the progress of Souk Okaz since its revival, followed by the operetta “Arab 501,” which chronicles the origins of the market 1,500 years ago. The operetta featured creative images that embody an important chapter of Arab social, cultural and creative history, including the development of Arabic poetry through to the present day. 

His Highness crowned the poet Mohammed Ibrahim Yaacoub from Saudi Arabia as winner of the Okaz poetry competition, with the prize of one million riyals. Abdullah Mohammed Obeid from Yemen took second place and received 500,000 riyals, while Shteiwi Azzam al-Ghaithi, also of Saudi Arabia, was awarded third place and 250,000 riyals. 

The prince toured Souk Okaz, witnessing popular performances in the Arab Quarter, which features pavilions from 11 Arab countries, the historical market, the Knights of Okaz, the Okaz boys’ area, the language and culture square and the music square. He saw how Okaz Avenue has been developed, along with how the area for productive families, restaurants and cafes have been enriched. 

His Highness witnessed the remarkable development that has been achieved in Souk Okaz as one of the main events in the Saudi Seasons.