4th May 2023, Riyadh – Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, together with Taif Governorate Municipality, has launched the third edition of the ‘Taif of Roses’ festival, supported by the Quality of Life Program. The festival is taking place in the city of Taif from 21st April to 5th May 2023 and will celebrate the significance of the rose, a plant that has been at the centre of the region’s culture and economy for centuries.
Taif is known locally as the ‘rose city’ and from March to May each year, during the bloom season, the area is overtaken by the intense, exotic scent of roses. More than 10,000 rose heads are required to make just a small vial of Taif rose essential oil, which makes the oil obtained from Taif roses some of the most precious and high value in the world. The oil can be used in skincare products and moisturizers, as well as exported to high-end fashion houses to be used in perfumes. The rose can also be infused to make sweet meats.
In 2022, the second edition of the Taif of Roses festival broke the Guinness World Records with the world’s largest flower basket. The basket was over a metre tall, over 12 metres long and nearly eight metres wide, beating the world record previously held by Singapore.
This year’s festival will create a holistic visitor experience, beginning at Taif International Airport. The airport will be decorated with roses and there will be a parade with performers and vehicles adorned with flowers. The centre of the festivities will take place at Al-Ruddaf Park, featuring a ‘Rose Mountain’ as well as mesmerizing light displays and a rose market selling local products made from Taif roses. There will also be a series of musical, theatrical, and artistic performances, including the Rose Hymns Exhibition.
The Taif of Roses festival is a unique platform to connect local producers and farmers with international companies and brands, enabling connections and opportunities for businesses and allowing the Taif rose to reach broader markets.
The festival is an enjoyable annual opportunity to celebrate Taif’s cultural heritage, honouring the status of the Taif rose at the core of the local culture.
