In line with our current exhibition WOVEN SPACES, Fenaa Alawwal has the pleasure to invite you to a panel discussion about the intersection of arts and crafts, based on the LIBAS collection by Iwan Maktabi.  

Bisat Al Reeh Exhibition 2022 Find us in Booth A48 at Jeddah Super Dome

A webinar from the Royal Society for Asian Affairs talk with Richard Wilding and Hamida Alireza of The Mansoojat Foundation.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9lIol7fAhk

In August 2010, The Mansoojat Foundation presented selected garments from its collection at the Singapore HeritageFest, sharing the richness of traditional Saudi dress with international audiences. Set within Singapore’s dynamic multicultural landscape, the festival provided a meaningful platform for cultural exchange. Visitors engaged with the craftsmanship, symbolism and regional identities expressed through embroidery, colour and form — discovering resonances between Gulf textile traditions and Southeast Asian heritage practices. For Mansoojat, the event marked an important early international milestone, reinforcing our commitment to safeguarding traditional dress while fostering global dialogue through exhibition and public engagement.

In March 2010, Mansoojat was invited by Le Notre Restaurant to present its costume documentary and selected pieces from the Mansoojat workshop for international visitors arriving in Jeddah aboard a Crystal Cruises ship. The event offered tourists a rare introduction to traditional Saudi dress and craftsmanship. Guests viewed the documentary before engaging directly with garments and hand-embroidered pieces, gaining insight into regional identities, techniques and the cultural stories embedded in each textile. This presentation reflected Mansoojat’s early commitment to cultural diplomacy — sharing Saudi heritage with global audiences and creating meaningful encounters through costume, storytelling and craft.

From 22–24 November 2008, The Mansoojat Foundation participated in the National Wedding Festival held at the Hilton Hotel in Jeddah. The festival was organised by the First Women's Welfare Society and celebrated the diversity of wedding traditions and cultural heritage across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As part of the programme, Mansoojat presented examples of two traditional wedding processions from different regions of Saudi Arabia. On 22 November, the Foundation showcased a wedding procession from the Jizan region. On 23 November, a second presentation featured traditions associated with the Bani Sa'ad Tribe. The participation highlighted the richness of regional costume traditions, ceremonial practices, and the importance[...]

The Mansoojat Foundation participated in the National Wedding Festival, organised by the First Women's Welfare Society, with examples of two wedding processions from different regions in Saudi Arabia: the first from Jizan on the 22nd of November and the second from the Bani Sa'ad tribe on the 23rd of November. Mansoojat's participation in this event was kindly sponsored by Mohammed Hassan Abu Dawood. Photographs by Denise Weber, Safa'a Alireza and Noura Alireza

On 24 February 2008, The Mansoojat Foundation participated in the Jeddah Economic Forum held at the Jeddah International Conference and Exhibition Center in Jeddah. The forum brought together regional and international leaders, business figures, and cultural organisations to discuss economic development and the future of the region. Mansoojat’s participation highlighted the importance of traditional costume, textile heritage, and cultural preservation within wider conversations about identity, heritage, and development in Saudi Arabia. Photography from the event was provided by Denise Weber

In February 2008, The Mansoojat Foundation participated in the Jeddah Economic Forum at the Jeddah International Conference and Exhibition Center. Within the setting of this major international forum, The Mansoojat Foundation presented traditional Saudi costume and textile heritage to delegates and global visitors. The display highlighted regional craftsmanship, embroidery traditions and the cultural narratives embedded within each garment. The event provided an important early platform for The Mansoojat Foundation to position heritage as an integral part of Saudi Arabia’s identity — demonstrating that culture and tradition stand alongside economic development in shaping the Kingdom’s global presence.