Craft Houses in Saudi Arabia Teach Young and Older Women the Design and Formation of Traditional Crafts

- The advancement in age did not deter Najwa Aoun's ambition from pursuing her passion for handicrafts, which has accompanied her since childhood. She joined as a trainee at the "House of Artisans" in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, embarking on a new journey to learn the design and shaping of leather products inspired by the heritage and identity of the Eastern region. This came after her retirement from Saudi Aramco, where she spent nearly 40 years, competing with a generation of Saudi girls who are taking their first steps in this craft. Najwa Aoun (66 years old) explained in an interview with Ufaq News in Arabic that she was able to start producing and designing her first leather products just a few months after intensive training under the guidance of expert artisans, dedicating herself entirely to this hobby she has always dreamed of.

The Saudi Heritage Authority, through the initiative of artisan houses spread across the Kingdom, seeks to revive handicrafts by activating heritage sites through the establishment of artisanal and productive workshops; to make them a hub for community craft activities and participation in seasonal events.