Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahsa chaired a UNESCO Creative Cities Network meeting in Gabrovo, Bulgaria, this week, presenting its model of using traditional crafts and folk art to strengthen social cohesion and build connections across communities. The gathering brought together representatives from 20 cities in the network's Crafts and Folk Art subnetwork, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Ahsa Mayor Essam Al-Mulla outlined how the city has leveraged culture and creativity to support sustainable development while preserving identity in a rapidly changing world. Al-Ahsa joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network 11 years ago through an initiative by the municipality.
Preserving 50 Traditional Crafts
According to UNESCO, Al-Ahsa preserves about 50 traditional crafts and folk art practices, including palm-based textiles, pottery, weaving and joinery. These practices support the local economy through markets and cultural festivals, connecting heritage to livelihoods.
During the meeting, Al-Mulla addressed culture and innovation, technology and human skills, investment in the future and cooperation among creative cities. He highlighted the role of cultural creativity in preserving identity and strengthening community ties — themes that resonate beyond the Gulf in a world where rapid modernization often threatens traditional ways of life.
Al-Mulla said Al-Ahsa's approach was rooted in cultural resilience, extending beyond heritage protection to developing ways to preserve, practice and pass on traditions to future generations while adapting to change. Technology and artificial intelligence offered opportunities to develop traditional skills and knowledge, and open new avenues for artisans, he added.
Technology as Complement, Not Replacement
Al-Mulla emphasized that technology should complement rather than replace heritage, helping craftspeople innovate, document their work and reach wider audiences and markets while preserving the authenticity and identity of their crafts. It's a balance many heritage communities worldwide are trying to strike — how to survive economically without losing what makes them distinctive.
Investment in culture and creativity was also an investment in people and human relationships that strengthens belonging, communication and social cohesion, he added. In a region often defined by conflict and division, that message carries particular weight.
Culture as Soft Power for Peace
Ibrahim Al-Shubaith, coordinator of Creative Al-Ahsa and lead coordinator of the network's Crafts and Folk Art cluster, described culture as a form of soft power for peace, as well as an effective means of fostering understanding and bringing communities closer together. He highlighted the importance of coordinating efforts and exchanging experiences to develop the crafts and folk art sector, and strengthen its contribution to sustainable cultural development.
The meeting aimed to expand cooperation and knowledge-sharing among member cities and advance joint work in crafts and folk art, reinforcing the role of culture and creativity in shaping cities' futures. For communities navigating modernization pressures, economic challenges and social fragmentation, Al-Ahsa's model offers a reminder that heritage isn't just about the past — it's infrastructure for resilience.
Why This Matters:
In a Middle East often reduced to headlines about conflict and oil, Al-Ahsa's UNESCO leadership highlights a different kind of regional story: cities using culture as a tool for social cohesion, economic development and cross-border dialogue. The preservation of 50 traditional crafts isn't nostalgia — it's a jobs program, an identity anchor and a form of soft diplomacy. Al-Shubaith's framing of culture as "soft power for peace" speaks to a broader truth: in regions where political solutions remain elusive, cultural exchange can build the human connections that politics can't. Al-Ahsa's approach — balancing heritage preservation with technological adaptation — offers a model for communities worldwide trying to navigate modernity without losing themselves. That's a challenge far beyond the Gulf.