DHAHRAN — The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has announced the launch of the Khoos Initiative, a cultural project dedicated to celebrating, recognizing, and reimagining the ancient craft of palm weaving.

The program connects artisans and communities in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province with global creatives, presenting palm weaving as both a living heritage and a source of future innovation.

Noura Alzamil, Ithra’s Head of Programs, said the initiative illustrates how heritage and craft can engage with contemporary practices.

“By connecting artisans, artists, and designers across borders, we support traditional Saudi techniques fostering sustainable and innovative approaches within the craft sector,” she said.

Palm weaving, known as Khoos, is one of the Kingdom’s oldest crafts, with artisans in Al-Ahsa Oasis — home to the world’s largest date palm oasis and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — continuing to practice it today.

The initiative unfolds through a series of programs. From October 3–14, a residency between Al-Ahsa and Ithra will bring together designers from Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Korea, Chile, and Bahrain to collaborate with local palm weavers. On October 9, Ithra will host a Recognition Day to launch Baseqat: The Palm Tree Exhibition and premiere Sa’afa, a documentary by filmmaker Mahmoud Kaabour that captures the stories behind the craft.

The exhibition, running until March 2026, explores the cultural and ecological legacy of the date palm through contemporary works by Saudi and international artists. A centerpiece will be Palms In Eternal Embrace by Ithra Art Prize winner Obaid Alsafi.

Future milestones include signature commissions in November by Lebanese designer Nada Debs, Argentinian designer Cristián Mohaded, and Saudi designer Shahad Alazzaz, supported by the Saudi Heritage Commission.

Ithra is also presenting the Khoos Initiative internationally, including at UNESCO Mondiacult 2025 in Barcelona and the ICOM General Conference in Dubai. — SG