Slow Food and the Royal Commission for AlUla to celebrate culinary traditions and biodiversity at first-ever Earth Market in AlUla

• Market to take place at the revilatised Souq Al-Sa’a in AlUla’s Cultural Oasis from 24-25 January 2025
• Event will follow symposium to discuss future collaborations between Slow Food and RCU with more than 100 local, national, and international experts in attendance

Slow Food and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) will host the first-ever Earth Market in Saudi Arabia from 24-25 January 2025. Taking place in AlUla’s regenerated Souq Al-Sa’a, known locally as the Souq of Abundance in the Cultural Oasis, the AlUla Earth Market is a significant milestone for Slow Food and RCU’s collaborative efforts to preserve local food biodiversity, honour agricultural and gastronomic traditions, promote women’s empowerment, while also elevating visibility of AlUla to the global food community.

Largely abandoned for the last few decades, Souq Al-Sa’a was once the heart of AlUla’s Summer Farms, where families would retreat during the hottest months to tend to date palms and enjoy cooler temperatures. Shaded by palm trees and bordered by houses, the souq was historically a hub for community interactions and exchanges.

Souq Al-Sa’a lies at the core of RCU’s revitalisation initiatives within the Cultural Oasis. As part of  the AlUla Earth Market, the souq wiill host diverse local food producers, including several local women-led businesses offering traditional AlUla cuisine and unique handicrafts.

Visitors to the AlUla Earth Market, held between 5pm and 11pm, can enjoy:

• Ten local producers offering tastings and hosting personalised storytelling sessions to showcase their work, products, and traditional recipes
• Two ‘Food Talks’ led by national and international experts:
  • Francesco Sottile, member of the Slow Food Board, who will discuss « Agrobiodiversity in AlUla »
  • Ahmed Zaki Kamel, CEO of Azka Foods and Slow Food’s representative in Saudi Arabia, who will present on « The Ethics of Food in the Quran and Slow Food in Saudi Arabia »

Earth Markets are an international network that adheres to the principles of Slow Food, a global movement advocating for access to good, clean, and fair food for everyone. They serve as community hubs where producers and activists connect to share knowledge and promote a more just and sustainable food system. Visitors can find food made with fresh, local, and seasonal products, that respects the environment and promotes sustainable practices, and is sold at prices that are equitable for buyers and sellers.

Credits RCU

Taking place a day before the AlUla Earth Market, on 23 January, Slow Food and RCU will host the Final Symposium on the AlUla Traditional Food Culture Study Project, marking the culmination of a year-long collaborative effort. National and international experts, community representatives, and members of Slow Food and RCU will come together to reflect on achievements in sustainability, culinary heritage, and regional networking.

The symposium serves as a platform to discuss the study’s findings, which encompass a wide range of topics, including agriculture, gastronomy, education, and tourism. These insights highlight the intersection of cultural and economic dynamics in AlUla. As a historic crossroads of civilisations, AlUla has played a pivotal role in trade and agriculture, offering a model for understanding the interdependence of culture, environment, and sustainable development.

A key aspect of AlUla’s heritage is its vibrant gastronomy, which strengthens the community, promotes tourism and protects biodiversity. Supported by the development of the AlUla Slow Food Strategy, Slow Fod and RCU are fostering collaboration and innovation to position AlUla as a premier gastronomic destination while safeguarding its culinary legacy.

ENDS

Note for editors:

It is always AlUla / not Al-Ula

About the Royal Commission for AlUla

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) was established by royal decree in July 2017 to preserve and develop AlUla, a region of outstanding natural and cultural significance in north-west Saudi Arabia. RCU’s long-term plan outlines a responsible, sustainable, and sensitive approach to urban and economic development that preserves the area’s natural and historic heritage while establishing AlUla as a desirable location to live, work, and visit. This encompasses a broad range of initiatives across archaeology, tourism, culture, education, and the arts, reflecting a commitment to meeting the economic diversification, local community empowerment, and heritage preservation priorities of Vision 2030.

For media enquiries please contact [email protected]

More on RCU: https://www.rcu.gov.sa/en/

About Slow Food

Slow Food is a global network of local communities founded in 1989 to prevent the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions and counteract the rise of fast food culture. Since its founding, Slow Food has grown into a global movement involving millions of people in over 150 countries, working to ensure that everyone has access to good, clean and fair food. Slow Food is the umbrella organization responsible for guiding the entire movement.

More on Slow Food: www.slowfood.com

More about the Slow Food Earth Market Program

Launched in 2004, the Earth Market network now spans over 100 markets worldwide. These markets are driven by communities of producers and artisans who gather to promote local products and foster meaningful connections with consumers. [Click here to learn more about the Earth Market project.]