Al-Ahsa Chairs UNESCO Crafts and Folk Art Network

Al-Ahsa has taken a leading role within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network by chairing the Crafts and Folk Art Sub-Network annual meeting, held in Gabrovo, Bulgaria, in 2026. The gathering brought together representatives from roughly 20 to 42 cities to discuss culture, creativity, technology, crisis resilience, and sustainable development in the field of crafts and folk art.

Al-Ahsa has been part of the network since 2015, when it was designated a UNESCO Creative City in the field of Crafts and Folk Art. Its influence grew in 2024 when a municipal representative secured a deputy head position within the crafts and folk arts cluster, and by 2025 the city was described in official municipal communications as vice-president of the cluster, tasked with collaboration, development programs, heritage preservation, and exchange of experience among member cities.

Why it matters

The chairing role reflects Al-Ahsa's function as a coordinating and leading city within the sub-network. The stated objectives tied to its Creative City status include improving the working environment for craftspeople through training and a dedicated marketplace, supporting youth artisans, and emphasizing gender equality.

The city also aims to use crafts and folk art to advance sustainable development, reduce unemployment, and strengthen cooperation and the exchange of best practices with other creative cities working in the same field.

Participation in the network is managed through municipal and cultural authorities in Al-Ahsa, using UNESCO's own creative-cities channels and periodic monitoring and reporting. For residents and artisans, the growing role positions Al-Ahsa as a hub where traditional Saudi crafts gain wider recognition and connect with a global community of creative cities.

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