Turkmen Artisans Showcase Heritage at Riyadh Handicrafts Week

The third Saudi International Handicrafts Week ("Banan") is making waves in Riyadh, marking a major highlight of the 2025 Year of Handicrafts.

The event, which is being held from November 13 to 26 under the patronage of Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan, brought together artisans from over 40 countries and more than 400 local craftsmen, The Caspian Post informs via Turkmen media.

This year, Turkmenistan showcased its rich cultural heritage, presenting handmade carpets, intricate silver jewelry, and original ceramics from the State Academy of Arts of Turkmenistan. The artisans emphasized that the forum offers a prime platform to promote traditional Turkmen art internationally, especially carpet weaving, recognized on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Visitors also enjoyed educational presentations on the cultural significance of Turkmen jewelry, learning about symbolic pieces such as gulyaka, tumar, and bilezik.

For Turkmen artisans, participating in the festival was more than an exhibition-it was a chance to expand their international presence, share their heritage with a global audience, and strengthen cultural and humanitarian ties with Saudi Arabia.