The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has inscribed Saudi Arabia’s Cultural practices related to Taif roses on its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
In the Taif region of Saudi Arabia, rose practices are an integral part of social and religious rituals and an important source of income. During the harvest season, which starts in March, farmers and their families 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, food and drinks. Taif roses and rose water are also presented as gifts.
An opening ceremony was on Sunday, 1 December 2024. The session is chaired by H.E. Ms Nancy Ovelar de Gorostiaga, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Paraguay to UNESCO.
