“Cultural Practices of the Taif Lord” in UNESCO Intangible Heritage

His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Culture, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Heritage Authority, and Chairman of the Saudi National Committee for Education, Culture and Science, announced the success of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in registering “cultural practices associated with sectarian roses” in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage at the United Nations. Education, Science and Culture, UNESCO.

The Minister of Culture stressed that the unlimited support enjoyed by the Saudi cultural sector with its various components is provided by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect them. It helped strengthen the presence of Saudi culture in the world.

The Minister of Culture added: “This registration reflects the Kingdom’s tireless efforts to protect the intangible cultural heritage, ensure its sustainability and transfer it to future generations.”

A common national file

The registration of the sectarian rose came in a joint national file led by the Heritage Authority, in cooperation with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and the Kingdom’s permanent delegation to UNESCO, to join the list of elements of Saudi intangible cultural heritage registered in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.

They are: the Saudi Ardha, the Majlis, Arabic coffee, falconry, the Asiri cat, the palm tree, Sadu weaving, Arabic calligraphy, camel shoes, Saudi Khawlani coffee, engraving on metals, and Al-Harees.

Cultural and social element

The Taif rose is a cultural and social element linked to the lives of the people of Taif, as its cultivation and manufacture represent part of daily activity that is reflected in the social and traditional practices in the region.
The history of Taif rose cultivation extends back hundreds of years, as the residents of Taif depend on its cultivation during the annual rose season, and community members gather in the rose fields to participate in the harvesting operations, which is an opportunity for social communication and the transfer of agricultural experiences between generations.
Taif rose products, especially rose water and aromatic oils, are used in social occasions and local traditions, such as perfuming gatherings and offering hospitality, which highlights their role in strengthening social ties.

The annual Taif Rose Festival is also a major social celebration during which residents and visitors come together to celebrate this heritage, as the local community displays its products and presents events that highlight pride in cultural identity.

Sustainability of this cultural heritage

The registration of the “sectarian rose” with UNESCO reflects the value of this item as an element of Saudi culture, in addition to its contribution to enhancing the world’s understanding of the close relationships between cultural heritage and social practices.
This comes in light of the Heritage Authority’s keenness to ensure the sustainability of this cultural heritage, and also reflects its keenness to consolidate international cultural exchange as one of the goals of the National Strategy for Culture, under the umbrella of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.