Souq Okaz to kick off on Sept. 9

More than 2,000 intellectuals, writers, poets and media personalities from the Kingdom and abroad have been invited to attend Souq Okaz, an annual cultural demonstration in Taif.
Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Makkah governor, will launch the seventh session of Souq Okaz next Monday, Sept. 9.
Many academics and intellectuals are due to attend, reflecting the volume of this cultural phenomenon that has transcended the local level to become a hub for intellectuals and literary scholars in the Arab world.
In fact, the souq has become a meeting point for literary personalities from across the Kingdom and the Arab world.
The Arab forum draws its strength from Arabic heritage and has become a distinct tributary of literature and culture.
The souq has become a cultural minaret that illuminates the Saudi and Arabic cultural space.
It rereads history and connects the past with the present, in addition to being a niche to the future. It is also a landmark for tourists who wish to learn about the market’s historical aspects.
The geography of the souq was defined following extensive archaeological research.
A statistical report drafted by the Tourism Information and Research Center (MAS), said that the souq had been given a positive evaluation, especially with regards to organization and variety, as well as family-friendly orientation.
The center expects the number of visitors to increase in comparison with past years, especially since the souq has been extended for two weeks compared to its usual 10-day run.
A report filed by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) said the number of visitors at last year’s event had increased by 44 percent. Around 256,000 visitors spent SR21 million at last year’s souq.