Saudi Arabia has been high and proud about its varied heritage and vast history and every part of the kingdom has something unique to offer, and one of them is the region’s mountain heritage.
The Qimam Mountain Performing Arts Festival taking place in the Asir region of Saudi, in the local capital Abha is showcasing the ancient arts that have been preserved in this mountainous region.
The festival introduces its viewers to old performing arts from the southern Sarawat mountain regions and celebrates their originality. ‘Qimam’ basically means summits in the southwest of the country which has the highest peaks in the Kingdom. Taking place in collaboration with Asir’s governor, Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Theatre Authority and the Ministry of Culture, the festival has various performances.
In addition to folk performances, the festival also has exhibitions that include paintings and artefacts from the mountain region including an interactive display that explains some of the mountain dances, their different rhythms and melodies and even allows visitors to join in. Not just that, visitors can also engage themselves in mountain hiking group tours by professional guides and can also attend a practical training workshop in mountain hiking that will be held on selected trips. The festival is also hosting a women’s shop that offers fashion and accessories as well as antiques that reflect regional identity. Foodies can relish popular restaurants that serve contemporary twists on the most popular dishes from the mountain regions.