Saudi town celebrates centuries-old saltworks

Cairo: The third edition of the Qasab Salt Season has got underway in the Saudi town of the same name located northwest of Riyadh with the aim of showcasing a main local product.

The February 20-27 festival celebrates salt as one of the most famous products that Qasab boasts due to the climatic and geological conditions in the region.

Qasab is a major site for salt production exported to various regions inside and outside Saudi Arabia, given its high quality and nutritional value.

Extraction of salt, known as the "white gold", has been the leading vocation of the people of Qasab for centuries.

This year's Salt Season comprises pavilions for more than 60 exhibitors, and includes work teams and volunteers of more than 300 persons. Launched in 2023, the festival this year aims to attract up to 120,000 visitors to its various events, organizers said.

Visitors gets the chance to go on journey to learn about the extraction, production and export of the "white gold".

The Season introduces visitors to the history of the area and its close relationship with salt over three centuries.

The festival also aims to support the private sector, highlight the national heritage and promote the tourism sector.

In addition, the event features a show of Arabian horses and camels, a classic car show, poetry recitals, a children's theatre, and seminars on the Qasab history. Sites have been allocated at the festival to explain the method of extracting salt, and shops to display salt-related products.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has sought to overhaul its oil-reliant economy and shed light on its rich heritage as part of an ambitious development scheme, dubbed Saudi Vision 2030.