The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), an initiative by Aramco, announces the launch of the Khoos Initiative, a cultural project dedicated to celebrating, recognizing and reimagining the ancient craft of palm weaving (Khoos). Connecting artisans and communities in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province with global creatives and audiences, the initiative bridges centuries of tradition with contemporary practice, presenting palm weaving as both a living heritage and a source of future innovation.

Palm weaving, or Khoos, is one of the Kingdom's oldest and most enduring crafts, where dried palm fronds are intricately woven into baskets, mats, and decorative objects. More than a practical skill, it embodies cultural memory, resilience, and creativity, passed down through generations in local communities. Ithra's Khoos Initiative shines a light on these living practitioners, particularly in Al-Ahsa Oasis, the world's largest date palm oasis and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the craft continues to play an active role in daily and cultural life.

The initiative unfolds through a series of interconnected programs. From 3 to 14 October , a residency between Al-Ahsa and Ithra brings together designers from countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Korea, Chile, and Bahrain, to collaborate directly with palm weavers, exchanging knowledge and exploring innovative approaches to craft while honoring traditional techniques. On 9 October , Ithra hosts a Recognition Day event that marks the launch of Baseqat: The Palm Tree Exhibition and the premiere of Sa'afa, a new documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Mahmoud Kaabour, capturing the human stories behind the craft.

Baseqat: The Palm Tree Exhibition , running until March 2026, takes visitors on an immersive journey into the cultural and ecological legacy of the date palm. Through sections like the Oasis, Roots, Trunk, Fronds, and Dates, the exhibition reveals the palm's role in architecture, medicine, ritual, and craft, reimagined through contemporary works by Saudi and international artists including Fatimah Al Nemer, Sumaya Shelbi, Mohammed Amine Hamouda and Mestiz. Meanwhile, Palms In Eternal Embrace by previous Ithra Art Prize winner Obaid Alsafi will be the centerpiece of the exhibition. Workshops and public programs will extend the exhibition experience, inviting audiences to engage directly with the living traditions of palm weaving.

Looking ahead, the Khoos Initiative will expand its impact with signature commissions in November 2025, featuring works by Lebanese designer Nada Debs and Argentinian designer Cristián Mohaded, developed with the support of the Saudi Heritage Commission. Additionally, Saudi designer Shahad Alazzaz will also present a signature commission, underscoring the initiative's efforts to foster international and local collaborations. Together, these milestones ensure that Khoos is celebrated not only as heritage but as a dynamic, evolving cultural expression.

The Khoos Initiative is announced in conjunction with Ithra's participation at UNESCO Mondiacult 2025 in Barcelona, through a panel on intangible cultural heritage to share insights from the perspective of living practitioners and artisans. Ithra will also present the Khoos Initiative at the ICOM General Conference in Dubai in November, furthering the conversation on crafts as systems of knowledge that sustain community resilience and cultural continuity.

By honoring artisans, engaging communities, and fostering collaboration across borders, the Khoos Initiative instills pride in one of Saudi Arabia's oldest traditions while showing how it can thrive as a source of contemporary creativity.

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