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The novel 'al-Taw'aman' (The Twins) by Abdul Quddus al-Ansari is considered the first novel in the history of modern Saudi literature . Some critics even believe it to be the first novel in the Arabian Peninsula. It was printed in 1930 at al-Tarqi Press in Damascus. On its first page, the author noted that it is 'the first novel in Hejaz.' Critics described 'al-Taw'aman' as a social reformist novel, as its story revolves around the idea of the negative im...

The Year of Arabic Calligraphy is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia throughout 2020 and extended for an additional year until 2021. With its own dedicated visual identity, the initiative aims to celebrate Arabic calligraphy due to its significance and close connection with the Arabic language. Moreover, the details, history, forms, and arts of Arabic calligraphy reflect the richness and creativity of the Arabic language, and it is a symbol of Saudi...

The Theater Pioneers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were the first to innovate in theatrical writing and worked towards establishing theaters and presenting shows in the Kingdom. This began as early as 1932, through several individual attempts to establish Saudi theater even before the emergence of theaters themselves. Poet Hussein Abdullah Siraj wrote several plays, starting with 'The Unjust to Himself' in 1932, followed by 'Jamil and Buthaynah' in 1942, and 'Walladah&...

The One Hundred Saudi Books Initiative is a cultural initiative aimed at printing and publishing one hundred books by Saudi authors in various literary, scientific, and humanities fields. This initiative seeks to highlight the content provided by these authors and enhance the cultural movement in the Kingdom. It was launched by the World Encyclopedia of Arabic Literature (Adab) in January 2023, in collaboration with the Cultural Fund, which supports various cultural programs related to differen...

Darah Journal is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published quarterly by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It specializes in publishing scientific research and studies related to the Kingdom's heritage, ideologies, history, geography, culture, and literature, as well as the Arab and Islamic world in general. The magazine is published every three months, with its first edition published on March 1, 1975. Sections of Darah Journ...

The Dictionary of Literature and Writers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the scientific dictionaries dedicated to recognizing Saudi writers in the Kingdom. It was supervised by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) . The first edition of the dictionary was published in 2007 by Dar al-Shorouk in Cairo, consisting of 640 large-sized pages. It included one thousand entries, of which eighty-eight entries were dedicated to Saudi literature and writers. After the re...

Children's Libraries are an initiative launched by King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in 1995, aiming to enhance the literary culture of children and young adults aged four to eighteen, foster valuable principles, and contribute to their upbringing with a love for innovation and diverse knowledge. This is achieved through developmental initiatives, enrichment programs, and cultural recreational activities. Children's Libraries fields Children's...

Saudi literary clubs are cultural and social institutions dedicated to promoting literature and culture in the Arabic language. They are interested in documenting literary and cultural history in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Enjoying legal personalities, they hold significant importance as pivotal literary institutions closely associated with literature and literary figures. The literary clubs, totaling sixteen clubs, contribute to the literary and cultural production since the establishment of...

'An Apartment Called Freedom' Novel is a Saudi novel published in 1994 in London, authored by Ghazi al-Gosaibi . The story revolves around four young men from Bahrain who come to Cairo to complete their secondary education and then pursue their studies at Cairo University. Upon their arrival and living separately, each in his own apartment, they decide to live together under one roof; which inspired the novel's title. Themes and characters The novel revolves around the lives of f...

The Academy of Arabic Poetry is a cultural institution affiliated with Taif University. It is located in Taif Governorate, Makkah al-Mukarramah Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The academy specializes in serving Arabic poetry and poets by supporting the study of this field, developing the capabilities of poetic and critical talents, organizing events and activities, holding specialized forums, conferences, and lectures, and issuing annual reports on the state of Arabic poetry. The academy is ...

Saudi Literature consists of literary texts written in the Arabic language by Saudi writers or poets. It is divided into two main types: poetry and prose. It is also an extension of the literature of the Arabian Peninsula, which dates back to the eras before the advent of Islam, i.e. before the year 610, and is historically known as the era of pre-Islamic literature. Poetry in Saudi Literature Poetry in Saudi literature is divided into two types: classical poetry and Nabati poetry which is insp...