In the middle of Alula’s desert canyon lies the old town, where ancient civilisations once thrived. Today, the empty, tottering mud structures are being restored to tell tales of their architectural legacy. In one corner of this heritage city is a single-storey building that nurtures Saudi Arabia’s creative potential.
In 1964, this building was Saudi Arabia’s first girls’ school. Today, Madrasat Addeerah serves as a hub for arts and traditional crafts. Taken over by the Royal Commission for Alula in 2019, the school is now a thriving art space, with over 70 students perfecting their skills in areas such as ceramics, jewellery, pottery, wicker making, and more.
These students are local women.
A few years ago, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia allowed its women to drive, prompting a change in mindset and stirring hopes for a brighter future for this gender. In the desert city of Alula, this hope burns brighter than ever.
To revive and promote the traditional crafts of the region, Madrasat Addeerah collaborated with the Turquoise Mountain Foundation—an NGO established by Prince Charles to protect traditional crafts and historical areas—and the Royal Commission for AlUla to teach women craftsmanship in June 2020. Since then, there has been a renewed focus on women's independence and empowerment through vocational training in various courses, which typically span a period of 2 to 3 years.
In the first room we enter, I can instantly smell the sweet fragrance of desert sand. A dozen women are hard at work at the wheel, sculpting pots and bowls from clay. This clay is picked straight from the desert and used to create utensils and artwork featuring creative designs that draw inspiration from the architecture and culture of the city.
Hamad, the supervisor at the centre and our guide for the day, takes us around, introducing us to the artisans while sharing more about the archaeological gems that have been unearthed in Alula. Before we move to the next room, I take a few pictures, with several artists requesting that I keep their faces out of the view of my lens. I gladly oblige.
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Each room at Addeerah is a marvellous example of the strides that Saudi Arabia is making to promote its heritage while avoiding the pitfalls of mass tourism. This initiative not only promotes tradition; each artisan here is paid a stipend. For many women, the money earned here helps support their households, serving as an incentive to attract more talent into the fold.
In the subsequent rooms, we meet women engaged in making jewellery from metals like silver and gold. Some are learning how to weave wall art from palm leaves. The best part is the focus on sustainability, with students using different coloured earth from the various mountains of AlUla to create their own unique pigments. “We hope one day our products gain global recognition. I aspire to start my own brand one day,” says a stitching student who is currently working on handbags featuring designs inspired by the old town itself. In Alula, modernity and tradition go hand in hand.
RCU is also taking stock of the international fine arts market, educating people in traditional and contemporary crafts. They launched Alula’s first art residency programme, which saw six artists work in the area for 11 weeks, exploring the theme ‘Rebirth of the Oasis’. There are great plans for the future of the school, says Hamad, including a residence for artists, a boutique store, and a café. Currently, the products made by the students are sold at a small store in the Old Town market. The Artisans Workshops in AlUla will eventually be offered to visitors as well.
Disclaimer: This is an older story that has been republished.