Diriyah to Host Reef Valley Exhibition September 25-26

Diriyah will host the Reef Valley exhibition on September 25 and 26, 2024, under the patronage of Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley, to highlight the economic, cultural and tourism importance of the Saudi countryside. The two-day event, held at Diriyah Biennale, is organized by the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program (Saudi Reef) and will bring together government agencies, specialists, decision makers, program beneficiaries and the general public, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Context and Background

Saudi Reef was created to develop the Kingdom’s rural economy and to improve the quality of life in the countryside. The program works across several fronts: developing rural sectors, providing training for young people, supporting their projects and incomes, backing small farmers and producers, and empowering rural women. These efforts are carried out in coordination with government agencies and specialists in agriculture and rural development.

Rural development has become an increasingly visible national priority. The Saudi countryside supplies a growing share of the Kingdom’s food and specialty products, from coffee and honey to fruit and rainfed crops, while offering cultural and tourism experiences that connect visitors with Saudi heritage. The Reef Valley exhibition is designed to present these contributions to a wider audience and to reinforce the countryside’s place in the national economy.

Key Details: Pavilions, Products and Participants

The exhibition will feature various pavilions representing the sectors supported by Saudi Reef, including aromatic plants, rainfed crops, coffee, fruit and honey. Each pavilion is intended to showcase remarkable experiences that demonstrate a deep passion for agriculture and to show how rural producers combine traditional knowledge with modern techniques and enterprise.

Organizers have invited government agencies, specialists and decision makers involved in agriculture and rural development, along with program beneficiaries and members of the general public. Bringing these groups together at Diriyah Biennale is expected to encourage dialogue between policymakers and rural producers, and to give visitors direct exposure to the Kingdom’s countryside sectors and the people who sustain them.

Implications and Impact

For the Kingdom, the event advances more than agricultural policy. By presenting the countryside as a source of economic opportunity, cultural pride and tourism potential, it supports efforts to diversify rural incomes and to change stereotypes about rural life. The exhibition also draws attention to the farmers whose work underpins national food production and community wellbeing.

Internationally, the exhibition offers a view of how Saudi Arabia is integrating rural communities into its wider transformation. Observers following the Kingdom’s development can expect the countryside to feature more prominently in cultural programming, tourism offerings and sustainable agricultural initiatives in the years ahead, with Diriyah serving as a fitting stage for that message.

Vision 2030 Alignment

The Reef Valley exhibition aligns closely with Vision 2030, the national plan to diversify the economy, expand opportunity and improve quality of life. Saudi Reef’s focus on training young people, supporting small producers and empowering rural women directly supports these goals, while the event’s cultural and tourism dimensions strengthen the Kingdom’s broader effort to present its heritage and countryside as assets for sustainable, inclusive growth and long-term global engagement.

20 Questions

Q1. What is the Reef Valley exhibition?

A1. The Reef Valley exhibition is a two-day event hosted in Diriyah that highlights the economic, cultural and tourism importance of the Saudi countryside. Organized by the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, known as Saudi Reef, it showcases rural sectors and the people who sustain them.

Q2. When and where will the exhibition take place?

A2. The exhibition will be held on September 25 and 26, 2024, at Diriyah Biennale in Diriyah Governorate, near Riyadh. The historic venue will host pavilions, displays and participants from across Saudi Arabia’s rural development sectors.

Q3. Who is patronizing the event?

A3. The exhibition is held under the patronage of Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley, whose ministry oversees agricultural and rural policy in the Kingdom. His patronage underscores official support for rural development and for the farmers and producers the program serves.

Q4. Which organization is organizing the exhibition?

A4. The Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, widely known as Saudi Reef, is organizing the exhibition. The program works to develop rural sectors, support small farmers and producers, and improve the quality of life in countryside communities across the Kingdom.

Q5. What does the name Saudi Reef refer to?

A5. Saudi Reef is the short name of the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program. It is a national initiative dedicated to developing rural sectors, training young people, supporting rural projects and empowering rural women, with the goal of raising incomes and living standards in the Saudi countryside.

Q6. What are the main objectives of the Reef Valley exhibition?

A6. The exhibition aims to change stereotypes about rural life, showcase remarkable agricultural experiences, underscore the vital role of Saudi farmers in achieving Vision 2030 objectives, and highlight Saudi Reef’s role in developing and improving the countryside. It also promotes the countryside’s economic, cultural and tourism value.

Q7. Which sectors will be represented at the exhibition?

A7. Pavilions will represent the sectors supported by Saudi Reef, including aromatic plants, rainfed crops, coffee, fruit and honey. These displays reflect the diversity of rural production in the Kingdom and illustrate how the program supports producers across different agricultural fields.

Q8. What kinds of products will visitors see?

A8. Visitors will see displays of aromatic plants, rainfed crops, coffee, fruit and honey, presented in pavilions dedicated to the sectors Saudi Reef supports. The exhibits are designed to demonstrate the quality, heritage and commercial potential of rural Saudi production.

Q9. Who is expected to attend the exhibition?

A9. The exhibition targets government agencies, specialists and decision makers involved in agriculture and rural development, alongside Saudi Reef beneficiaries and the general public. This mix is intended to connect policymakers, experts and rural producers in one setting.

Q10. How does the exhibition seek to change stereotypes about rural life?

A10. By presenting pavilions and experiences that demonstrate a deep passion for agriculture, the exhibition challenges outdated views of rural communities. It showcases modern practices, successful projects and the aspirations of farmers, presenting the countryside as dynamic, productive and central to the Kingdom’s future.

Q11. What role do Saudi farmers play in Vision 2030?

A11. Saudi farmers are described as vital to achieving the objectives of Vision 2030, the national transformation plan. Their work supports food production, rural economies and community wellbeing, making agricultural development an important part of the Kingdom’s broader economic diversification and quality-of-life goals.

Q12. How does Saudi Reef support young people?

A12. Saudi Reef provides training for young people and supports their projects, helping them build skills, launch rural enterprises and improve their incomes. This focus on youth aims to keep talent and opportunity within rural communities while encouraging innovation in agriculture and related sectors.

Q13. How does the program empower rural women?

A13. Saudi Reef empowers rural women by supporting their participation in agricultural and rural enterprises, helping them develop skills and generate income. This inclusion reflects the Kingdom’s wider commitment to expanding economic opportunities for women under Vision 2030.

Q14. How does Saudi Reef assist small farmers and producers?

A14. The program supports small farmers and producers by developing rural sectors, offering training and backing projects that raise productivity and income. These measures aim to strengthen livelihoods, improve local supply chains and sustain countryside communities across the Kingdom.

Q15. Why is Diriyah a suitable venue?

A15. Diriyah is a historic Saudi site, home to the Diriyah Biennale, and is closely associated with the Kingdom’s cultural heritage and modernization. Hosting the exhibition there links the nation’s agricultural traditions with its contemporary cultural and tourism ambitions.

Q16. What is the economic importance of the Saudi countryside?

A16. The Saudi countryside contributes to food production, rural employment and local enterprise. Developing its sectors raises incomes, strengthens supply chains and diversifies the economy beyond oil, supporting the Kingdom’s long-term economic goals under Vision 2030.

Q17. What is the cultural significance of the exhibition?

A17. The exhibition celebrates the traditions, skills and heritage of rural communities, presenting agriculture as a source of pride rather than a stereotype. It highlights aromatic plants, coffee, honey and other products that carry cultural meaning and reflect the Kingdom’s deep agricultural roots.

Q18. What is the tourism significance of the event?

A18. The exhibition promotes the Saudi countryside as a destination with distinctive products, landscapes and heritage. By drawing attention to rural experiences and local production, it supports efforts to broaden tourism beyond major cities and to attract visitors interested in authentic cultural encounters.

Q19. How does the exhibition align with Vision 2030?

A19. It advances Vision 2030 by supporting rural development, empowering youth and women, improving quality of life and diversifying the economy. The event also reinforces the role of agriculture in national transformation, echoing the Kingdom’s goals for sustainable, inclusive growth.

Q20. How can the public learn about Saudi Reef’s work?

A20. Members of the public can attend the exhibition at Diriyah Biennale on September 25 and 26 and explore its pavilions. Information about the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program is also shared through official Saudi channels, including the Saudi Press Agency.

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