Dhahran | BETH | B
June 1, 2026

More than 85,000 visitors attended the Eid Al-Adha celebrations at King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) over four days, as part of the program “Ithra Eid: Moments We Share”, which presented a cultural journey showcasing Eid traditions from six countries across the Islamic world.

Overview

The center's facilities were transformed into an open cultural space highlighting Eid customs and traditions from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt, Morocco, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan through traditional hospitality, live performances, workshops, and interactive activities.

The celebrations featured diverse sensory experiences centered on flavors and aromas associated with Eid traditions, alongside musical evenings, dedicated children's programs, science-and-art workshops, and activities that recreated the atmosphere of traditional Eid celebrations and the memories of old family homes.

Visitors also explored the “Tafassahu” exhibition at Ithra Museum, inspired by the concept of the traditional majlis. Running through March 2027, the exhibition invites reflection on the values of hospitality, belonging, and human connection.

BETH Analysis

These attendance figures highlight how cultural events have evolved beyond seasonal entertainment to become effective tools of soft power and platforms for building bridges between cultures.

Notably, Ithra presented Eid not merely as a local celebration, but as a shared human language—one in which emotions remain remarkably similar despite differences in geography and tradition.

At a time when cultural institutions worldwide compete for audiences through technology-driven experiences and large-scale productions, this model offers a different value proposition: one rooted in memory, identity, and shared human experience—elements that often leave a deeper and longer-lasting impact than the event itself.