Red Sea Museum unveils Ramadan heritage programme

Red Sea Museum has unveiled an expansive Ramadan programme in Historic Jeddah, bringing together craft workshops, storytelling sessions, performances and community gatherings to mark the holy month against the backdrop of a major maritime exhibition opening this season.

The series, running from February through March 2026, is designed to celebrate heritage, creativity and collective memory. Organisers say the initiative seeks to deepen public engagement with the cultural legacy of the Red Sea while reinforcing the museum’s role as a civic space within Al-Balad, the UNESCO-listed historic district of Jeddah.

Programming coincides with the launch of Sunken Treasures: The Maritime Heritage of the Red Sea, a temporary exhibition that explores centuries of trade, migration and cultural exchange across one of the world’s most significant waterways. Curators describe the exhibition as a wide-ranging survey of seafaring traditions, pearling routes, shipbuilding techniques and the port cities that shaped economic and social life along the Red Sea coast.

Museum officials said the Ramadan calendar was intentionally structured to complement the themes of the maritime show. Evening workshops will focus on traditional crafts historically linked to coastal communities, including rope-making, wood carving and decorative arts associated with seafaring households. Artisans and cultural practitioners from Jeddah and other Red Sea cities are expected to lead hands-on sessions, allowing families and younger visitors to experience techniques passed down through generations.

Storytelling gatherings, scheduled after iftar, will draw on oral histories of merchants, sailors and pilgrims who travelled across the Red Sea basin. These sessions aim to highlight the region’s long-standing connections to East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and South Asia. According to organisers, the narratives are intended not only as historical accounts but as reflections on shared identity shaped by trade and faith.

Outdoor community events will take place in the courtyards and public squares surrounding the restored Bab Al Bunt building, which houses the museum. The structure itself is regarded as an architectural landmark within Historic Jeddah, known for its coral-stone construction and wooden latticework balconies. Restoration efforts over the past few years have positioned the building as a focal point for cultural programming in Al-Balad, an area that has undergone extensive conservation under broader heritage initiatives.

Performances during Ramadan will include traditional music ensembles and spoken-word recitations that draw on Hijazi artistic forms. Museum representatives indicated that the evenings are intended to foster intergenerational exchange, with older residents sharing recollections of life in the port city before large-scale urban expansion transformed its shoreline.

Cultural analysts note that Ramadan programming across the Gulf has increasingly moved beyond purely religious observance to encompass heritage preservation and creative expression. Institutions in Jeddah, Riyadh and other cities have invested in curated experiences that blend spirituality with education, tourism and community-building. The Red Sea Museum’s approach appears to align with that trend, placing emphasis on participatory learning rather than static display.

The maritime exhibition running alongside the Ramadan events is expected to draw significant attention. Preliminary previews indicate that Sunken Treasures features artefacts recovered from shipwreck sites, archival maps and interactive displays tracing historic trade routes. Scholars involved in the project say the Red Sea functioned as a corridor linking Africa, Arabia and Asia long before the rise of modern shipping lanes, influencing cuisine, language and architecture in port settlements.

By situating Ramadan activities within this broader narrative, the museum is framing the holy month as a period of reflection not only on faith but on collective heritage. Curators argue that the Red Sea’s history of exchange mirrors the values of hospitality and connection that underpin Ramadan gatherings.

Visitors will also have access to contemplative creative sessions, including calligraphy workshops and guided sketching inspired by maritime motifs. These quieter activities are designed to offer space for reflection during the fasting month while encouraging artistic exploration rooted in local history.

Officials overseeing the programme have stressed accessibility, noting that many events will be open to the public without charge, while some specialised workshops may require prior registration due to limited capacity. Extended evening hours during Ramadan are expected to accommodate families who prefer to attend after breaking the fast.