Jeddah: The Saudi Heritage Commission brought Jeddah’s waterfront to life with the Shiraa Wooden Ships Festival, a cultural celebration highlighting the Kingdom’s deep-rooted maritime heritage and its historic relationship with the sea.
The event, which ran from Jan. 13-16, invited visitors to explore how seafaring shaped coastal life, trade and cultural exchange across the generations.
A Heritage Commission representative said: “Shiraa reflects our commitment to reconnecting people with the sea and reviving maritime heritage through an interactive cultural experience.
“The program restores the human journey with the sea and highlights the historical role of ports in trade, discovery and cultural communication across the ages.”
At the heart of the festival was the Al-Qilafa exhibition, which traced maritime heritage from Qur’anic references to everyday coastal life, the wooden ship itself being a living symbol of memory.
