RIYADH: The craft of Al-Sadu is alive across the Kingdom — not only in the depths of the Badia, where the art originated, but also in cities, houses, festivals, exhibitions, events, and art and creative galleries.
Al-Sadu is a popular cultural and civilizational symbol that embodies the distinction of the people of the Kingdom and the Arabian Peninsula.
The “traditional weaving of Al-Sadu” was included in 2020 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A new logo inspired by Al-Sadu has been launched for the Riyadh Expo 2030.
The Saudi Council of Ministers designated 2025 as the Year of Handicrafts, in order to highlight traditional Saudi crafts and craftsmen.
The raw materials used in Al-Sadu are abundantly found in the Kingdom’s desert. They include goat hair, wool from sheep, and camel fuzz.
Bedouin women mastered the craft, and it was utilized in building Bedouin tents and meeting the needs of families with furnishings such as bedspreads and covers.
The Al-Sadu process goes through several phases. It starts with cutting the wool, sorting it, and then washing it using certain substances, such as soap or ash, to rid it of any plant matter or thorns.
The material is then dried, spun into yarn, and then dyed in natural colors extracted from plants and trees’ peels and roots, such as saffron and henna. Traditional Al-Sadu colors are black, white, red, and brown.
The pieces are then decorated with embroidery, ornaments, and creative art paintings of geometric patterns such as rectangles, circles, triangles and other distinctive forms, many of which symbolize details and connotations associated with the Bedouin.
To knit the threads and weave these unique pieces, craftswomen use the spindle, the loom, and wooden equipment such as the menfash, which is a nail-padded wooden weaving tool used to tease the wool after collecting, washing and drying it. This step is followed by the spinning process, which turns the wool into the spun yarn used in the remaining weaving stages.
The Al-Sadu weaving craft enjoys great significance in various regions of the Kingdom, including Jouf, where many artisans and productive families make unique Al-Sadu products.
Al-Sadu artisans are supported by the Jouf Municipality and governmental and non-governmental sectors, including the Maghazil Al-Sadu Association, which organizes many training programs for craftswomen, as well as exhibitions and programs aimed at marketing and familiarizing people with the art.
Dr. Hiam bint Mubarak Al-Buhairan, the association’s chairperson on the board of directors, said: “Al-Sadu is a symbol of Jouf and the Kingdom, and a national and international resource.
“The association works on protecting, developing, documenting and achieving the sustainability of Al-Sadu, for present and future generations.”
Al-Buhairan said that the association’s goals included providing professional opportunities for talent; raising awareness in the fashion industry; advising those interested in fashion; providing educational and training opportunities; supporting researchers; and contributing to the development of the sector.
The King Abdulaziz Women’s Society for Social Development in Jouf provides Al-Sadu craftswomen with support and training as part of the Made in Saudi project.
