Al-Ahsa hosts Al-Bisht Al-Hasawi festival celebrating traditional craftsmanship

The Al-Bisht Al-Hasawi Festival in Al-Ahsa offers an immersive look into the Kingdom’s traditional bisht craftsmanship.

Running until February 7 at the historic Ibrahim Palace, the festival features a bisht exhibition, a rare gallery, artisan-led workshops, and a handcrafts zone. Organized by the Heritage Commission, it also includes international pavilions highlighting the bisht’s cultural significance across the Arab world.

A key highlight is the “Golden Threads” (Al-Zari), the gold-plated silver threads that define the bisht’s elegance. Visitors can watch master artisans demonstrate the bisht-making process, take part in hands-on workshops, and explore exhibitions showcasing the craft’s history, along with nightly projection mapping displays.