The Committee
- Takes note that Saudi Arabia has nominated Cultural practices related to Taif roses (No. 02089) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
In the Taif region of Saudi Arabia, rose practices are a key part of the inhabitants’ cultural heritage and identity. From December to February, farmers fertilize and water the land, prune the rose bushes, and plant cuttings. The harvest season begins in March and lasts thirty-five to forty-five days. During this time, farmers and their families and friends pick the roses in the early morning and transport them to the local market to be sold or to their houses to be distilled. Communities use rose water and essential oil in beauty products, traditional medicine, traditional dishes, and to flavour drinks. One local custom entails throwing fresh roses or petals in front of guests to celebrate their arrival. Taif roses and rose water are also presented as gifts to family and friends, including outside the Taif region. Rose practices are transmitted within families through observation and participation, with children supporting their parents in the cultivation, harvesting, distillation and preparation of local rose products. Organizations and cooperatives also organize training sessions on Taif rose cultivation. Rose practices reinforce social cohesion in the region, as they are an integral part of social and religious rituals. They are also an important source of income.
- Considers that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
R.1: In the Taif region of Saudi Arabia, cultural practices related to roses are a key part of the inhabitants’ cultural heritage and identity. The practitioners of the element include farmers, their families and friends, traders, and members of cooperatives, especially women. The element is transmitted formally and informally, inter- and intragenerationally. Young people learn from adults and peers through observation and participation. Associations and cooperatives also organize trainings for farmers, traders and other stakeholders wishing to learn rose cultivation. The element is used to generate income and promote social cohesion. An integral part of social and religious rituals, the roses are used for various functions, including culinary, medical and aesthetic.
R.2: The element contributes to several aspects of sustainable development. As a form of traditional medicine, it contributes to good health and well-being. It also promotes gender equality through the participation of men and women in owning and managing farms, cultivating and selling roses and creating rose products. The element also generates income for farmers, craftspeople and traders, thus contributing to the economic well-being of families and communities. Additionally, the inherited skills of planting, harvesting and using roses to create different products contributes to environmental sustainability and the conservation of natural resources. The various expressions of the element also strengthen social ties and promote a sense of shared cultural identity among families, neighbours and friends.
R.3: The primary safeguarding measures are transmission, identification and documentation and protection of the element. Safeguarding is mainly done through transmission within families but is complemented by workshops such as those conducted by local and regional cooperatives in 2022, which reached 118 trainees. The State supports and leads initiatives such as coordinating awareness-raising festivals, building reservoirs, cleaning wells, and conducting training courses on rose distillation and related traditions. The nomination file highlights the communities’ involvement in developing the safeguarding measures and plans for their implementation.
R.4: Local communities, especially from the Taif region, were actively engaged in the nomination process. They took part in the introductory meetings on the Convention organized by the Taif Roses Cooperative, as well as in the documentation and research processes. The communities concerned also contributed to gathering information about the tradition and provided their free, prior and informed consent for inscription of the element.
R.5: The cultural practices related to Taif roses were included in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage Elements in 2021. The inventory is maintained by the Ministry of Culture. Information concerning the updating and periodicity of the inventory is included in the periodic report submitted in 2022. The file also provided information on the participation of communities in the inventorying workshops.
- Decides to inscribe Cultural practices related to Taif roses on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;
- Commends the State Party for a well-prepared file and an excellent supporting video that conveys the element’s contribution to various aspects of sustainable development.