Ageless: Arabian Art Through the Ages
For some 5,000 years, civilizations as we commonly understand them have come and gone, waxed and waned. An enduring measure of their character and legacies is the genius expressed in their art.
Meet the Saudi Photographer Behind Hajj 2019’s Most Iconic Picture
Photographers capture tens of thousands of images during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, but few are shared widely on social media — and even fewer occupy the coveted spot on the front page of Arab News.
The Seven Natural Wonders of Arabia, Part I: Elephant Rock
In November of last year we began our Seven Wonders of Arabia tour with a visit to Madâin Sâlih in the Al-’Ula region of northwestern Arabia—the Kingdom’s first inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Site. Two thousand years ago...
Aramcons Challenge the Euphrates, Part VIII: Deliverance
At the conclusion of the previous installment in this series, our Aramcons adventurers had floated past armed Turkish sentries guarding the construction site of a new dam, ignoring their orders to stop. We pick up their story there...
Coming Soon: The Seven Natural Wonders of Arabia
In AXP’s recently-concluded series, The Seven Wonders of Arabia, readers were taken on monthly visits to seven of the most outstanding historical sites in the Kingdom. The tour began in November of last year with a stop at the rock...
Saudis Recall History’s Greatest TV Event: Apollo Moon Landing
It was a sleepy afternoon in Saudi Arabia, just days before the end of the school vacation, and Saudis had their eyes glued to their TV sets as they waited for live coverage of the Apollo 11 moon landing.
Konstantinopel Rare and Fine Books - Making the Impossible Possible
A wonder-filled gathering place on the world-wide-web for bibliophiles interested in the history of the Middle East is the website of Konstantinopel Rare and Fine Books. Readers may recognize the name, as Konstantinopel has been a loyal supporter of this website for some time.
Aramcons Challenge the Euphrates, Part VII: Confrontations
At the conclusion of the previous installment in this series, our doughty band of Aramcons had just made camp for the night after completing a spine-tingling run through the most treacherous stretch of the Grand Canyon...
Arabian Honey: The Best of the Best
Bees and the honey they gather are among nature’s greatest wonders. Take away bees and the role they play in pollination and much of agriculture as we know it would be devastated. Take away bees and the honey...
Taif Emerges as Top Local Tourist Destination in Saudi Arabia
Taif governorate has gained the lion’s share of the Kingdom’s domestic tourism volume, crowning it as the city of roses and the best Saudi summer city, due to its mild climate during summer and natural landscapes especially in the Al-Shifa and Al-Hada areas.
Walking the Plank in Old Jubail
Who can forget those fantastic dhow trips out to the islands? I particularly remember the ones I went on before they turned Jubail into a super-port - when was that? Somewhere before 1980, I would guess. Back then, Jubail was just a little fishing port and the dock for the fishing dhows was quite tiny and set behind a group of old custom buildings.
Gertrude Bell: “Queen of the Desert” or “The Female Lawrence of Arabia”?
While conducting research into the history of sites for possible inclusion in our recently-concluded Seven Wonders of Arabia series...
Coffea Arabica: Cultivating the Coffee Culture
Since it was first introduced to the Arabian Peninsula from Abyssinia in the fifteenth century, coffee and the rituals surrounding its enjoyment have been important components of daily life there and all across the Middle East.
The McGinley Family Winery
Positive change is happening all over the Huntsville area, but at the top of the list would have to be the opening of the beautiful wine tasting and dining venue at West Sandy Creek Winery located at 1773 FM 1791, just a few minutes South West of Huntsville, TX.
Aramcons Challenge the Euphrates, Part VI: Scylla and Charybdis
In the previous installment of this series, a party of Aramcons had just run a daunting bedrock rapid at the entrance to a stretch of the upper Euphrates in eastern Turkey known as the Serpent’s Mill. We continue here with their story...
Mosques that Host Some of the World’s Largest Eid Congregations
Muslims will soon observe Eid Al-Fitr, the festival that marks the end of Ramadan. Eid Al-Fitr, which means Festival of the Breaking of the Fast, will see Muslims gather for the congregational prayer in mosques or special prayer grounds around the world.
Dates: The Miracle Food of Arabia
Absent the camel, the history of Arabia and the world would have followed a far different course than what it did. Much the same can be said of the date and its impact on humankind.
The Seven Wonders of Arabia, Part VII: Ar Rajajil—The Stonehenge of Saudi Arabia
Last year a series was introduced in these pages identifying what we termed “The Seven Wonders of Arabia.” The time has come to announce our choice for the seventh and final member...
Aramcons Challenge the Euphrates, Part V: The Serpent’s Mill
In the most recent installment of this series, a party of Aramcons was about to enter a stretch of the upper Euphrates River in eastern Turkey known as the Serpent’s Mill. We continue here with their story...
Linda Johnson: Volunteering with a Purpose
The mere mention of the name Casablanca instantly conjures up images in the minds of movie buffs the world over of the 1942 Oscar-winning film set in the Moroccan city during World War II and starring Humphrey Bogart...