Historical Occupations in Saudi Arabia
Historical occupations in Saudi Arabia are the traditional trades and crafts that emerged from the old ways of life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They vary from one region to another, shaped by the diversity of local communities and the differences in natural environments. However, some of these occupations became widespread across most regions of Saudi Arabia. In the 21st century, they have come to be recognized as part of Saudi Arabia’s national heritage.
Historical occupations in Makkah al-Mukarramah region
Traditional occupations in historic Makkah al-Mukarramah varied greatly due to the region’s diverse social and economic environments and the large number of visitors arriving from different places. Among these trades were: rosary making, water carrying, tawafa (pilgrim guiding), rose distillation, grocery trading, cotton carding and mattress making, stone masonry, bread baking, perfumery, currency exchange, book selling and writing services, Ramadan drummers (musaharati), sellers of small goods, cloth fraying and recycling, storytellers, and public callers or announcers.
Makers of prayer beads are known as al-subhiyya. Makkah al-Mukarramah became known for producing beads made of yusr, a type of wood brought from the Red Sea coast, before plastic later emerged and began to be used in this craft. Water carrying (al-siqayah) was also one of Makkah al-Mukarramah’s prominent traditional professions. The person who practiced it, the saqqa’, would draw water from wells and distribute it across neighborhoods, in addition to supplying pilgrims, visitors, and worshippers at the Grand Mosque. The profession of ṭawafah is also known as a heritage occupation passed down through generations. It is not open to just anyone; the mutawwif is responsible for serving pilgrims coming from outside Saudi Arabia and helping them perform their religious rites.
Taif Province became known as the center of rose-water production due to its extensive rose cultivation. Al-sammanah refers to sellers of natural clarified butter made from sheep and cow milk. Al-naddafah or al-tanjid is a traditional craft in which the naddaf or munajjid prepares cotton—untangling and softening it—to fill mattresses, pillows, and quilts before stitching them closed.
Stonecutting is considered one of the professions historically linked to the mountains of Makkah al-Mukarramah. The hajjar produced al-nurah, a white powder made by burning limestone and then quenching it with water, which was used for coating walls. Among the historical professions in Makkah al-Mukarramah as well was perfumery; the seller of perfumes, fragrances, and oud was known as an ‘aṭraji.
In the financial context, currency exchange became known as a key profession during the Hajj season, as pilgrims and visitors arriving in Makkah al-Mukarramah from around the world needed to exchange their currencies for the local one, a service provided by the sarraaf (money changer).As for the kutubiyya, they were book sellers, and in the past they were assigned a place in the Grand Mosque, near Bab al-Salam, to sell books
As for the khardajiyya, they were sellers of sewing supplies such as needles, threads, and scissors. It was also customary in old Makkah al-Mukarramah that when someone was about to travel, a muzahhid would be brought to chant verses wishing them a safe and peaceful return.
Due to the unavailability of media in the past, some professions emerged to alert residents. The musaharati would walk through neighborhoods announcing the time for suhoor during Ramadan, reciting calls and supplications in a loud voice. The hakawati would narrate stories and historical accounts to café patrons at night in exchange for money. Meanwhile, the munadun roamed the markets of Jeddah to inform people about the arrival of ships, as well as to announce invitations, celebrations, and the beginning of new months.
Historic occupations in Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah region
The historical professions in the Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah region had a unique style and organization that distinguished them from other areas of Saudi Arabia. Each trade or craft had its specialists, known as the "artisan guilds," and no one could work in a profession without first consulting the head of the group or senior craftsman and proving their expertise and skill in the trade. These included: builders, carpenters, blacksmiths, painters, coppersmiths, saddlers, coopers, leatherworkers, guides, cooks, milkmen, and butchers.
Several traditional professions were closely linked to mud-brick construction and skilled crafts. Builders constructed mud and stone houses and prepared them for habitation. Blacksmiths crafted iron tools and equipment, such as scissors, hammers, knives, and coffee roasters. Carpenters worked in various wood industries to produce items needed by the community. Painters coated doors, windows, and houses first with oil and then with color. Coppersmiths made copper utensils, while saddlers produced pitchers, lanterns, traditional measuring cups, and ladles. Coop-makers crafted beds and poultry cages.
In the field, there was a profession known as the "Sarraj," referring to those who prepared lanterns and torches each night to light the pathways and rooftops within the city. The Dalaloon acted as intermediaries, facilitating transactions between sellers and buyers in the market. The Tabbakha (cooks) were divided into two groups: one prepared feasts for special occasions, while the other handled the setup, welcomed guests, and prepared various traditional dishes. The Labbanah were dairy makers, producing yogurt and cream, and selling fresh milk. The Jazzar referred to butchers who sold meat.
Historical occupations in Riyadh region
In the past, people in Riyadh worked in a number of crafts and industries, including jewelry making, blacksmithing, weaving, palm frond work (al-khous), and embroidery. The jeweler crafted items from gold, silver, and copper, decorating them with engravings and carvings. The blacksmith made weapons, iron keys, swords, and horseshoes. As for the production of traditional tents, home textiles, and blankets, this was the specialty of skilled weavers, who prepared the threads from sheep’s wool, goat hair, and camel hair.
In addition, women worked in palm frond crafts (al-khous), making date baskets, round mats, hand fans, and various trays. The leatherworker (al-kharraz) specialized in crafting different types of shoes, as well as qirb and saqqa’—small leather containers used to store milk, and ‘akka, another small leather container for storing ghee.
Historical occupations in Al-Qassim region
Among the traditional professions in Al-Qassim region were tannur-making (the craft of building clay ovens) and butchery, which involved slaughtering camels, cutting the meat, and distributing it to those who requested it, in addition to trading, farming, construction, and spinning.
Historical occupations in the Eastern region
Several traditional professions were known in the Eastern region, such as farming, molasses production, date preservation, mat-making, weaving, herding, dairy production, Al-Sadu weaving, and pottery-making.
Agriculture was popular in the Eastern region, especially in Al-Ahsa Governorate, due to the fertile land and the abundance of springs. On the other hand, the person who extracts molasses from dates is known as a saddak.
The profession of Tasjin involves taking palm trunks, cutting them, and using them to roof houses or build bridges. A person who practices this craft is called a "Musjin." As for mat-making, palm fronds are used to create small mats for covering floors in homes and mosques, and they were also used to spread grains for drying.
Textiles were woven using a manual loom, through which the weaver produced men’s and women’s clothing as well as abayas. Some residents of the region also worked in producing dairy products such as ghee, buttermilk, or what is locally called “al-mudhir” or “al-aqt.”
In the sadu craft, wool and camel hair are woven, producing items such as tents (bayt al-sha‘r), traditional tents, and bags. In pottery-making, the craftsperson uses kneaded clay, shaping it to produce clay vessels, pitchers, and water jars.
Historical occupations in the Southern region
The residents of Aseer region worked in a number of professions, including the production of pottery and stone tools used for cooking, drinking, cooling, and grinding grains. Some worked in beekeeping, which made honey widely available in the region. Other known trades included dyeing, tailoring, barbering, and cupping therapy.
In Jazan region, the profession of pressing sesame to extract sesame oil became widespread, along with the production of traditional sweets using ingredients available in the local environment, such as flour, dates, sugar, oil, starch, saffron, cardamom, rose water, and sesame. This craft has been passed down through generations to the present day. Among the well-known Jazan sweets are: mashabbak, halqoum, and sesame sweets.
Additionally, the region was known for several other industries, including the manufacture of farming tools and equipment, and the building of wooden boats.
In Al-Baha region, stones were taken from the mountains to build houses, a process known as “al-taqli‘”, carried out by a worker called “al-muqalli‘”. Among the old crafts in the region was the crafting of palm fronds to produce plates, brooms, and mats. There were also families specialized in the production of gunpowder.
Najran region included leather, silver, wool, wood, stone and pottery craftsmen.
Historic Occupations inNorthern Region
Handicrafts were prominent in the Tabuk region, as in the rest of Saudi Arabia, such as: Apothecary, barbering, cupping, real estate industry, construction, trading, Kharazah, Dalalah, and selling ghee.
In the Hail region, the camel profession was known, as the camel transports people's goods and goods from one place to another, in addition to the manufacture of copper buckets for Arabic coffee.
In the Northern Borders and Al-Jawf regions, craftsmen appeared in metal industries such as pots, saiyani, tongs, compounds, daggers, horse iron, and horse bridles, in addition to textile and wood industries.