Al Bayt Al Saudi beckons fans with activities, exhibitions

Despite the Saudi Arabia team’s exit in the first round of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, fans continue flock to Al Bayt Al Saudi (Saudi House) to watch matches on big screens and explore Saudi’s cultural legacy and art exhibition.
Located at the Sheraton Park, Al Bayt Al Saudi gives visitors the opportunity to learn about the Saudi identity and attachment towards football.
The venue also houses cultural programmes daily, while the playgrounds allow children and adults to take part in sport activities.
Al Bayt Al Saudi boasts of a total of 10 pavilions, in which 21 activities are held.
An official said that these are aimed at enriching the fans’ experience in the World Cup.
The fan zone hosts fans across the world from 12 noon to 12 midnight.
“We receive many fans from Western countries, and they spend time here in Saudi dress with *Ghutra and *Iqal, the traditional headwears,” the official said.
The area has dedicated pavilions representing various geographical zones of Saudi Arabia, featuring the cultural specialities of each zone.
Many Saudi artists are part of the exhibition, which features live painting, weaving and calligraphy making.
Visitors can also take a look at the calligraphy collection on show.
“The exhibition here is an opportunity for the artists who can get international visitors here,” said artists Saleh al-Qarni. “The artists try to speak to the world about Saudi’s rich culture and love for the arts.”
One of the highlights is a football exhibition on the achievements of Saudi Arabia in international tournaments.
The photo exhibition features Saudi football legends.
The activities area provides fans with the experience of playing football with the top players via Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality, in addition to the experience of getting photographed with members of the Saudi national team.
The area also contains a special store for everything related to collectibles.
There are cafes and restaurants that promote Saudi cuisine.